Parking Assistant Rescues Failed Manual Parking Maneuvers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drivers often incorrectly assess parking spaces and vehicle positioning during manual parking, leading to failed attempts and the need to exit and re-attempt parking, which can be inefficient and frustrating.

Innovation Solution

A method where a parking assistant is activated after a failed manual attempt, using environmental data to determine a starting area outside the parking space, guiding the vehicle into this area, and then automatically completing the parking process, allowing the driver to reach the desired target position with minimal manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a driver performs manual parking without assistance, then the driver has full control over the vehicle, but the driver may incorrectly assess the parking space and fail to reach the target position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver controlVSAvoidparking success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The parking assistant acts as an intermediary system that provides computational parking space assessment and trajectory guidance to the driver. The system processes sensor data to determine if the parking space is suitable and generates steering instructions, bridging the gap between driver intent and successful parking execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the driver's manual mechanical assessment and control with an automated electronic system that uses sensors, processors, and actuators. The parking assistant substitutes human judgment with algorithmic evaluation of parking space dimensions and vehicle trajectory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If the driver exits the parking space to retry parking, then a new assessment can be made, but time is lost and traffic is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking success rateVSAvoidparking attempt duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The parking assistant performs preliminary assessment of the parking space using sensor data before the driver commits to the maneuver. The system evaluates whether the space is suitable and provides guidance in advance, preventing failed attempts and the need to exit and retry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback to the driver during the parking maneuver through steering instructions and status information. This continuous feedback loop allows the driver to make corrections without exiting the parking space, reducing time loss and traffic disruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the parking assistant is activated during a manual parking attempt, then automated support is provided, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking success rateVSAvoidparking system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The parking assistant operates in different modes that can be dynamically switched. The system can transition between providing minimal guidance and full automated control based on the situation and driver preferences, managing complexity through adaptive operation rather than fixed functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The parking assistant is designed to handle multiple parking scenarios and provide various levels of assistance within a single integrated system. The same sensor suite and processing architecture support different parking maneuvers and guidance modes, reducing overall system complexity through consolidation.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3418163B1Automatic parking after a cancelled manual parking manoeuvre
Publication Date: 2022.06.15 VALEO SCHALTER & SENSOREN GMBH
  • EP3418163B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4

AI summary

After an aborted manual parking maneuver, the parking process should be easily completed. A procedure is proposed in which a parking assistant on the vehicle (1) is activated in the parking space (2) and environmental data concerning the vehicle's (1) surroundings is collected. From this data, a starting area (7) outside the parking space (2) is determined for the automatic parking of the vehicle (1) into the parking space. Subsequently, the vehicle (1) is automatically guided or driven out of the parking space (2) into the starting area (7). From there, the vehicle (1) is automatically parked or guided into the parking space (2).