Automated Parking Control on Slopes Using Acceleration Torque Setpoints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current parking assistance systems for vehicles lack comprehensive control over longitudinal movements, particularly on sloping roads, leading to potential collisions and instability during automated parking maneuvers.

Innovation Solution

A parking assistance system that integrates obstacle detection, parking space detection, electric power steering, and a controlled braking system, utilizing modules for determining acceleration and torque setpoints based on vehicle speed, obstacle distance, and road slope, with multiple operating states to manage acceleration and braking phases effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the driver maintains full control of acceleration and braking during automated parking, then the driver has complete control over the vehicle, but the vehicle may drive at excessive speed leading to collisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver controlVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into two distinct modes: automated control mode where the control module manages acceleration and braking to prevent excessive speed, and manual control mode where the driver maintains full control. This segmentation allows the system to switch between safety-oriented automated control and driver-oriented manual control based on operational needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control module dynamically changes acceleration and braking parameters based on real-time conditions such as vehicle speed, distance to obstacles, and parking maneuver progress. By continuously adjusting these parameters, the system prevents excessive speed while maintaining effective parking assistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the automated system controls acceleration and braking, then collision risk is reduced, but the system must accurately compensate for braking system dispersion on sloping roads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision preventionVSAvoidbraking regulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control module implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors actual vehicle acceleration and braking performance, compares it with target values, and adjusts control signals to compensate for braking system dispersion. This feedback loop enables accurate vehicle control on sloping roads despite variations in braking actuator performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calibration of braking actuators to characterize their dispersion characteristics before actual parking maneuvers. This preliminary action allows the control module to pre-compensate for known braking variations, reducing the complexity of real-time regulation on sloping roads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If the system controls both lateral and longitudinal movements, then parking precision is improved, but the system complexity increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The control module merges lateral steering control and longitudinal acceleration/braking control into a single integrated automated parking system. By combining these control functions, the system achieves comprehensive parking precision while reducing overall system complexity compared to separate independent control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control module is designed as a multi-functional unit that handles both lateral steering commands and longitudinal acceleration/braking commands. This universal control architecture improves parking precision through coordinated control while minimizing the increase in system complexity by using a single versatile controller.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3592629B1Motor vehicle parking assist method and system
Publication Date: 2022.08.03 RENAULT SA
  • EP3592629B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3592629B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3592629B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Motor vehicle parking assist system for parking the vehicle moving from a traffic lane towards a vacant parking space and leaving said parking space to move towards the traffic lane. The parking assist system comprises a module (12) for determining the vehicle acceleration, which module is suitable for delivering a set point value for acceleration (A) depending on the vehicle speed (V) and on the distance (D) from an obstacle and a torque regulating module (14) suitable for calculating a set point value for braking torque (CFF) and a set point value for engine torque (CMF) depending on the set point value for acceleration (A), the vehicle speed (V) and for the road gradient (P).