Automatic Parking Direction Decision Using Parking Space Center Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking assistance devices fail to consider the user's intended parking direction and cannot determine a suitable parking posture when no vehicles are parked nearby.
Innovation Solution
An automatic parking assistance device that includes processing circuitry to recognize parking spaces, determine the center line of each space relative to the vehicle's reference point, and autonomously decide a forward or backward parking direction based on user selection, using sensors and ECUs to maneuver the vehicle into the selected space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the parking assistance device uses periphery monitoring sensor to obtain parking directions of ambient vehicles and adopts the most common parking direction, then the device can automatically decide a parking posture, but the device cannot reflect the user's intention and cannot decide parking posture when no vehicles are parked in the vicinity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary recognition of the parking space center line position relative to the vehicle's reference point before making the parking direction decision. By calculating the positional relationship in advance (determining whether the center line is on the advancing side or retreating side), the system prepares the necessary information to automatically decide the parking direction that aligns with user intention, even before the user explicitly indicates their preference.
Solution Approach 2:
The parking assistance device uses its own vehicle position information and sensor data to independently determine the parking direction by calculating the relationship between the center line and the vehicle's reference point. The system serves itself by autonomously computing the parking direction without relying on ambient vehicle directions, enabling it to function correctly even when no other vehicles are present in the parking area.
2Reliability
If the parking assistance device determines parking direction based on ambient vehicles, then the device can operate in populated parking areas, but the device fails when no vehicles are parked nearby
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces the center line of the parking space as an intermediary reference element between the vehicle and the parking direction decision. By using the center line's positional relationship with the vehicle's reference point as the basis for determination, the system creates a reliable mediation mechanism that works independently of ambient vehicles, enabling consistent operation whether the parking area is populated or empty.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the parking direction determination process into distinct components: recognizing the parking space, obtaining the center line, determining the positional relationship with the reference point, and deciding the direction. This segmentation allows the system to use different data sources (vehicle position information and center line calculation) rather than relying solely on ambient vehicle data, improving reliability across different parking scenarios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device calculates center line position to determine parking direction, then the device can reflect user intention, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing circuitry is designed to perform multiple functions: it recognizes parking spaces, obtains parking frame lines, calculates center lines, determines positional relationships, and decides parking directions. By creating a universal processing capability that handles all these tasks through integrated circuitry, the system avoids the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving versatile parking direction determination that reflects user intention.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic parking assistance device includes a subject vehicle position determination unit, a parking direction determination unit, and a controller. The subject vehicle position determination unit determines whether a center line of a parking space is located on an advancing side or a retreating side of a vehicle with respect to a reference point of the vehicle. When the center line of a target parking space is determined to be located on the advancing side with respect to the reference point of the vehicle, the parking direction determination unit decides a parking direction to be forward. When the center line of the target parking space is determined to be located on the retreating side, the parking direction determination unit decides the parking direction to be backward. The controller autonomously parks the vehicle in the target parking space according to the decided parking direction.