Parking Garage Navigation Using Geometric Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing parking systems in garages fail to geographically localize free parking spaces, making it difficult for vehicles to quickly find available spaces, leading to inefficiency and discomfort for drivers.

Innovation Solution

A parking system that uses an evaluation and control unit with a transceiver and distance sensors to receive and update information about parking garage geometry and occupancy status, allowing vehicles to automatically navigate to free spaces and provide navigation instructions, thereby recognizing only correct parking spaces and ignoring irrelevant areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If parking spaces are measured using distance sensors and transmitted to a central database, then the number of free parking spaces can be displayed, but the free parking spaces cannot be geographically localized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeographic location information of parking spacesVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the parking garage into individual parking space segments, each with unique geometric coordinates. Distance sensors in vehicles measure and identify specific parking spaces by comparing measured distances with stored geometric data of individual spaces, enabling precise geographic localization rather than just counting available spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Geometric data of the parking garage serves as an intermediary between the distance sensors and the central database. The geometric data contains coordinate information of all parking spaces, allowing the system to translate distance measurements into specific geographic locations and transmit this localized information to vehicles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If all parking spaces are used including corners and restricted areas, then parking capacity increases, but incorrect areas are identified as valid parking spaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking space utilizationVSAvoidparking space identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different areas of the parking garage are assigned different qualities or statuses in the geometric data. Valid parking spaces have specific geometric characteristics and accessibility parameters, while corners and restricted areas have different properties. The system evaluates each area's local characteristics to determine if it qualifies as a valid parking space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes evaluation parameters when identifying parking spaces, considering not just distance measurements but also geometric coordinates, accessibility parameters, and area characteristics. By adjusting which parameters are considered valid for parking space identification, the system can accurately distinguish usable spaces from restricted areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If vehicles manually search for parking spaces, then drivers have full control, but parking time and driver workload increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking search timeVSAvoiddriver operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The parking system provides self-service by automatically calculating optimal routes to free parking spaces using the vehicle's current position and the geographic locations of available spaces. The system independently performs route optimization and navigation guidance without requiring driver intervention in the calculation process, reducing both time and operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating routes to multiple free parking spaces before the driver needs to park. When a vehicle enters the parking garage, the system has already identified available spaces and prepared navigation instructions, eliminating the need for manual searching and reducing parking search time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables faster and more efficient parking by accurately identifying available spaces and guiding vehicles to them, maximizing parking space utilization and driver convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a distance sensor system which detects distance data

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTime of Flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentEP2601481B1Method for supporting a parking process in a parking garage, parking system for a vehicle and occupancy detection system for a parking garage
Publication Date: 2017.05.10 VALEO SCHALTER & SENSOREN GMBH
  • EP2601481B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2601481B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for supporting a parking procedure in a parking garage (1) using a parking system (31) in a vehicle (30). In order to allow simplified and rapid discovery of an empty parking space, information about the parking garage (1) is provided to the parking system (31) upon entering or during presence thereof in the parking garage (1), wherein the parking system (31) generates and outputs control data for the vehicle (30) by analyzing the provided information (20) about the parking garage (1), wherein the vehicle (30) is automatically transported through the parking garage (1) on the basis of the control data and/or the control data are output to the driver as navigation instructions.