Parking Assist Space Detection Without Visible Parking Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking assist systems fail to guide vehicles into parking spaces when the lines on the road surface are obscured by snow or mud, leading to inconvenience and inefficiency, especially when multiple tire tracks are present, causing the system to select inappropriate parking spaces far from the intended location.
Innovation Solution
A parking assist system that includes an environment information obtainer, a sufficient parking space setter, a parked-vehicle inter-space calculator, and a parking capable space setter, which calculates and compares the space between parked vehicles to determine if it is sufficient for parking, and guides the vehicle to this space, even if the parking lines are not recognized, by setting a parking allowance width on each side of the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the parking assist system detects parking spaces using road surface lines, then the parking guidance is accurate and reliable under normal conditions, but the system fails to detect parking spaces when the road surface is covered with snow or mud
Solution Approach 1:
The parking assist system is enhanced to perform multiple detection functions: it can detect parking spaces using both road surface lines (normal condition) and tire tracks (poor condition). The control unit selectively switches between detection methods based on environmental conditions, making the system universally applicable across different scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its detection parameters adaptively: under normal conditions, it uses line detection algorithms; under poor conditions (snow, mud), it switches to tire track detection algorithms. This parameter change allows the system to maintain detection capability across varying environmental conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the parking assist system uses tire tracks to detect parking spaces in poor environments, then the system can operate when lines are not visible, but the system may select inappropriate parking spaces far from the desired location when multiple tire tracks are present
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms to verify detected parking spaces. When multiple tire tracks are detected, the control unit evaluates each potential parking space against multiple criteria (track continuity, proximity to vehicle, spatial relationship) and uses feedback from these evaluations to select the most appropriate parking space, preventing incorrect selections.
Solution Approach 2:
The parking space selection process is made dynamic and adaptive. Rather than simply selecting any space with tire tracks, the system continuously evaluates potential spaces as the vehicle moves, adjusting selections based on real-time conditions and the vehicle's current position and orientation, thereby improving location accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If the parking assist system requires a fixed parking space width for guidance, then the guidance is simple and straightforward, but the system cannot accommodate vehicles of different sizes or parking preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The sufficient parking space width is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit calculates the required width based on the detected vehicle width and adds an appropriate allowance, adapting to different vehicle sizes. This dynamic adjustment maintains operational simplicity while accommodating various vehicle types and parking preferences.
4Reliability
If the parking assist system calculates sufficient parking space including allowance width, then the system ensures safe and comfortable parking, but the system may reject suitable parking spaces that are too narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the parking allowance width parameter based on detected parking space conditions. When a narrow space is detected, the system evaluates whether the space can still accommodate the vehicle with reduced allowance, rather than automatically rejecting it. This parameter adjustment maintains safety while increasing the availability of usable parking spaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A parking assist system for a vehicle includes an environment information obtainer, a sufficient parking space setter, a parked-vehicle inter-space calculator, a parking capable space setter, and a parking assister. The environment information obtainer obtains environment information around the vehicle. The sufficient parking space setter sets a sufficient parking space for the vehicle by including a parking allowance width on each of left and right sides of the vehicle. The parked-vehicle inter-space calculator calculates a space between parked vehicles, based on the obtained environment information. The parking capable space setter compares the space between the parked vehicles with the sufficient parking space and, when determining the space between the parked vehicles is greater than or equal to the sufficient parking space, sets the space between the parked vehicles to be a parking capable space. The parking assister guides the vehicle to the parking capable space.