Parking Assistance System Positioning Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing parking assistance systems often result in vehicles being positioned unfavorably in parking spaces, leading to wasted space or potential damage due to inadequate distance from adjacent vehicles, especially in tight spaces like garages or narrow parking lots, and lack efficient automatic or semi-automatic control for optimal positioning.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling a parking assistance system that evaluates sensor data for obstacle distances and vehicle speed/steering position to automatically or semi-automatically adjust the vehicle's position, allowing for optimal placement within a parking space, including minimizing distance from obstacles and folding in exterior mirrors for improved maneuverability, with the capability for fully automatic or semi-automatic operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a driver manually drives into a parking space, then the driver has control over the parking position, but the vehicle may end up in an unfavorable position wasting space or being too close to adjacent vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver controlVSAvoidparking position precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables the vehicle to park itself automatically by evaluating sensor data about obstacles and parking area boundaries, and autonomously determining the optimal parking position and trajectory without requiring manual driver intervention for positioning control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously evaluates sensor data during the parking maneuver to monitor the vehicle's position relative to obstacles and boundaries, and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the trajectory and steering commands to achieve optimal parking positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the vehicle is positioned closer to obstacles to maximize space utilization, then space efficiency improves, but the risk of damage from adjacent vehicles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the vehicle's distance to obstacles and adjacent vehicles using sensor data during and after parking, and can automatically adjust the parking position to maintain a safe minimum distance while still maximizing space utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system evaluates obstacle positions and potential collision risks before finalizing the parking trajectory, and pre-calculates the optimal parking position that balances space utilization with safety margins from adjacent vehicles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If automatic parking control is implemented to achieve optimal positioning, then parking position precision improves, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking position precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses existing standard sensors in vehicles (ultrasonic sensors, cameras, speed sensors, steering angle sensors) that serve multiple functions including obstacle detection, distance measurement, and trajectory evaluation, thereby achieving automatic parking control without adding significant system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines data from multiple existing sensors (ultrasonic distance sensors, cameras, speed sensors, steering angle sensors) into a unified evaluation process that simultaneously determines obstacle positions, parking area boundaries, and optimal parking trajectory

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables precise and efficient vehicle positioning within parking spaces, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing space wastage or collision risks, while allowing for automatic entry and exit from parking areas.

Implementation Method 1

information data about obstacles or parking area boundaries are obtained with ultrasonic sensors on the vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic detection: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentEP2143618B1Method for controlling a parking assistance system for vehicles
Publication Date: 2018.03.28 VALEO SCHALTER & SENSOREN GMBH
  • EP2143618B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The method involves evaluating sensor data, which is related to distance to an obstacle in a parking space, and speed and/or steering position data of a vehicle (1). A parking assistance system is controlled using the evaluated sensor data. Automatic or semi-automatic correction, which is produced by a driver of the vehicle, to a laterally offset parking position is performed, during automatic or semi-automatic detection of the parking space. An optimal parking position of the parking space lies outside a central parking position in the parking space.