Parking Lot Control System for Entrance Backup Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fully automated valet parking systems often result in backups at the entrance of parking lots due to simultaneous autonomous vehicle parking, overwhelming the available spaces.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that use a communication network to determine a parking position for vehicles based on the instantaneous and expected number of vehicles in the entrance area, transmitting this information to the vehicle to prevent or minimize holding times and backups by optimizing the selection of parking positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous vehicles park simultaneously in the parking lot, then the parking capacity is utilized, but backups occur in the entrance area due to insufficient spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of the parking lot state before assigning parking positions. The control unit determines the current state of parking positions and entrance area in advance, and based on this assessment, selects appropriate parking positions that will not cause backups, thereby preventing the harmful effect before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the state of parking positions and entrance area, using this feedback information to dynamically adjust parking position assignments. The control unit receives information about the current state, processes this feedback, and modifies the parking position selection to prevent backups while maintaining high parking capacity utilization
2Device complexity
If parking positions are assigned without considering current vehicle density, then the assignment process is simple, but holding time increases for arriving vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts parking position assignment based on real-time changes in vehicle density and parking lot state. The control unit continuously updates its knowledge of the parking lot state and modifies parking position assignments accordingly, making the system adaptive rather than static, thereby reducing holding time without significantly increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters used for parking position selection based on the current state of the parking lot. When vehicle density is high, the system prioritizes different criteria than when density is low, adjusting the selection parameters dynamically to minimize holding time while maintaining system manageability
3Ease of operation
If vehicles are directed to fixed parking positions, then the navigation is straightforward, but following vehicles may be blocked by previously parked vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary selection of parking positions that are guaranteed not to block following vehicles. By assessing the current state of the parking lot and entrance area in advance, the control unit identifies parking positions that maintain clear paths for subsequent vehicles, preventing blocking before it occurs while keeping navigation simple for individual vehicles
Data Source
AI summary
A device for operating a parking lot, includes a communication interface, which is configured to receive a parking inquiry for a vehicle in the parking lot from a user of a communication network via the communication network, and a processor, which, in response to the received parking inquiry, configured to ascertain a parking position in the parking lot for the vehicle based on an instantaneous and/or expected number of vehicles situated in an entrance area of the parking lot, the communication interface being configured to transmit the ascertained parking position via the communication network to the user so that the vehicle may park in the ascertained parking position. Also described is a method for operating a parking lot and a computer program therefor.