Parking Assistance Discontinuity Regulation Module

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current parking assistance systems for vehicles lack effective management of sudden changes in distance remaining to be traveled, leading to uncomfortable braking and failure to account for obstacles, compromising both comfort and safety during automated or semi-automated parking maneuvers.

Innovation Solution

A parking assistance system that includes a speed regulation module and a discontinuity regulation module, which calculates a vehicle speed setpoint based on maximum authorized speed and remaining distance, detects discontinuities, and switches to a degraded mode to reduce the impact of sudden changes in distance, ensuring comfortable and precise deceleration, including the use of a comparator to determine torque requests for the gearbox and braking system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If open loop regulation is used to activate braking when distance remaining is close to zero, then the vehicle can stop at the desired position, but sudden changes in distance remaining cause uncomfortable braking for passengers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidpassenger comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by anticipating the discontinuity in distance remaining and activating the braking system in advance, before the discontinuity actually occurs. This allows the vehicle to smoothly transition through the distance change without sudden braking, thereby maintaining both positioning precision and passenger comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies beforehand cushioning by preparing the braking system in advance of the expected discontinuity. The braking torque is gradually increased before the full discontinuity effect occurs, cushioning the impact on passengers while still achieving the desired stopping position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Ease of operation

If the driver is responsible for acceleration and braking, then the driver has full control, but the vehicle may drive at excessive speed leading to collision risks

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

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the distance remaining to the obstacle and using this information to automatically adjust acceleration and braking. This closed-loop control ensures the vehicle maintains safe speeds while allowing the driver to retain operational control through the automated assistance system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The automated parking assistance system acts as an intermediary between the driver's control inputs and the vehicle's actual motion. It processes the driver's intent while simultaneously considering obstacle distance and speed constraints, mediating the control to prevent excessive speeds while preserving driver authority.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the distance remaining to be traveled is suddenly updated due to obstacle detection, then the vehicle can avoid collisions, but the speed setpoint target value changes causing uncomfortable braking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidpassenger comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by detecting the potential discontinuity in distance remaining and preparing the braking system in advance. Before the full discontinuity effect occurs, the system gradually increases braking torque to counteract the sudden speed setpoint change, thereby avoiding uncomfortable braking while maintaining collision avoidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies beforehand cushioning by anticipating the impact of distance discontinuity on passenger comfort. It gradually applies braking torque before the discontinuity fully manifests, cushioning the sudden deceleration effect on passengers while still achieving the necessary speed reduction to avoid the obstacle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3730365B1Method and system for assisting the parking of a motor vehicle comprising a module for controlling any discontinuity in the remaining distance to be travelled
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 RENAULT SA
  • EP3730365B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3730365B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3730365B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Method (40) for assisting the parking of a motor vehicle allowing the vehicle to be parked from a traffic lane to a free parking space and to exit from said parking space to the traffic lane, in which any discontinuity in the remaining distance to be travelled (d_rest) is detected and regulated.