Parking Control Device Sensor Degradation Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking assistance systems face challenges in accurately guiding vehicles to parking targets when in-vehicle sensors degrade or become dirty, leading to potential collisions due to inadequate detection of obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A parking control device that acquires operation state information of sensors within the parking lot and generates guidance information to safely navigate vehicles to vacant spaces, using functional sensors to ensure accurate and safe parking, even when in-vehicle sensors are degraded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If in-vehicle sensors are used for detecting obstacles and generating parking guidance information, then the system can operate autonomously, but the reliability of obstacle detection deteriorates when sensor accuracy is degraded or sensors fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a parking lot sensor system as an intermediary between the in-vehicle sensors and the parking guidance information generation. When in-vehicle sensors fail or degrade, the parking lot sensors (including overhead cameras and ground sensors) serve as backup detection means to provide obstacle information, ensuring continuous reliable operation of the autonomous parking system
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs beforehand cushioning by pre-deploying multiple sensor types (in-vehicle sensors, parking lot overhead cameras, ground sensors) and establishing backup detection capabilities before sensor failure occurs. The control device can switch to alternative detection means when primary sensors degrade, preventing system failure
2Device complexity
If the vehicle relies solely on its own in-vehicle sensors for parking guidance, then the system structure is simple, but the accuracy of parking guidance deteriorates when sensor function is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detection functions of in-vehicle sensors with parking lot sensors (overhead cameras and ground sensors) into a unified detection system. The control device integrates information from multiple sensor sources to generate parking guidance information, maintaining high accuracy even when individual sensors degrade
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements multi-functionality by using different sensor types for the same detection purpose. Overhead cameras can detect both vehicle positions and obstacles, ground sensors can detect obstacles and surface conditions, and in-vehicle sensors provide complementary data, ensuring accurate parking guidance through multiple functional paths
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are deployed in the parking lot area, then the reliability of obstacle detection is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor system into distinct functional zones: in-vehicle sensors for initial detection, overhead cameras for area-wide monitoring and obstacle detection, and ground sensors for localized obstacle detection near parking spaces. Each segment operates semi-independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability through distributed detection
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by deploying different sensor types in specific locations where they are most effective. Overhead cameras are positioned to monitor high-risk areas, ground sensors are placed near parking spaces where obstacles are most likely, and in-vehicle sensors focus on the vehicle's immediate surroundings, optimizing detection reliability without unnecessary complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A parking control device (101) includes: an acquisition unit (406) configured to acquire operation state information of a sensor (103) existing in a parking lot area (P); and an information generation unit (408) configured to generate parking guidance information within the parking lot area based on the operation state information.