Automatic Parking Control Device Optimizing Space Allocation via Environmental Assessment

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic parking systems do not effectively optimize parking space allocation based on environmental conditions, leading to suboptimal situations such as excessive heat or risk of damage from severe weather, which can compromise vehicle comfort and safety.

Innovation Solution

A method that assesses parking spaces using environmental information like sunlight intensity, direction, and weather conditions to re-park vehicles from suboptimal to optimal spaces, considering the user's pick-up time and equipping control devices with sensors or network connectivity to predict and mitigate adverse conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a vehicle is automatically parked in any available parking space, then the parking operation is simple and quick, but the vehicle may be exposed to excessive heat or severe weather conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparking operation simplicityVSAvoidexcessive heat and severe weather exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary assessment of parking spaces using environmental information (sunlight intensity, weather conditions, temperature predictions) before assigning a parking space. This preliminary action allows the system to select optimal parking spaces that avoid excessive heat and severe weather conditions, preventing harmful effects before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors environmental conditions and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust parking space assignments. By incorporating real-time and predictive environmental data, the control device can re-evaluate and re-assign parking spaces to optimize protection against heat and weather conditions while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the control device selects a parking space without considering environmental conditions, then the parking process is fast, but the vehicle interior temperature may exceed comfortable limits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparking process speedVSAvoidvehicle interior temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary assessment of parking spaces using environmental information (sunlight intensity, weather conditions, temperature predictions) before assigning a parking space. This preliminary action allows the system to select optimal parking spaces that avoid excessive heat and severe weather conditions, preventing harmful effects before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors environmental conditions and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust parking space assignments. By incorporating real-time and predictive environmental data, the control device can re-evaluate and re-assign parking spaces to optimize protection against heat and weather conditions while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the control device continuously monitors and re-evaluates parking spaces, then optimal parking conditions are maintained, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparking space optimalityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device integrates multiple functions into a single system: it manages automatic parking operations, collects environmental data, processes temperature predictions, and dynamically re-assigns parking spaces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems while maintaining the ability to continuously optimize parking conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system autonomously monitors environmental conditions, evaluates parking space quality, and executes re-parking operations without requiring constant user intervention or complex external control systems. The control device self-manages the entire process, from data collection to decision-making to execution, simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10166978B2Method for automatically parking a vehicle and associated control device

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 AUDI AG

AI summary

Method for automatically parking a vehicle in a parking area having a multiplicity of parking spaces, comprising the following steps:allocating a specific parking space for the motor vehicle by means of the control device;automatic driving, or driving under the control of the control device, of the vehicle to the specific parking space; characterized by the following steps:making available at least one item of environmental information for the control device;evaluating the parking spaces on the basis of the at least one item of environmental information; andif appropriate, re-parking a vehicle located in a parking space which is evaluated as being less than optimum to a parking space which is evaluated as being optimum by the control device.