Off-Street Parking Map Creation Using Vehicle Sensor Path Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current crowd-sourced mapping solutions struggle to accurately create maps of off-street parking infrastructure due to the limited use of GPS sensors, leading to challenges in assigning sensor data to specific locations and increasing traffic congestion during parking searches.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a server unit that processes vehicle sensor data to normalize path information, identify points of maximum curvature, and rectify path segments to create a geometric map of parking infrastructure, allowing for the identification of occupied and unoccupied spaces without relying on infrastructure-specific data collection systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS sensors are used for precise location determination, then mapping accuracy is improved, but the solution is not applicable to off-street parking infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary reference system consisting of known reference points (such as pillars, walls, or structural elements) within the off-street parking infrastructure. These reference points serve as mediators between the vehicle's sensor data and the mapping system, enabling accurate location determination without requiring GPS signals. The system processes sensor data (lidar, ultrasonic sensors, odometer) and aligns it with the reference point network to establish precise spatial coordinates within the parking facility.
2Measurement precision
If infrastructure-specific data collection systems are installed, then mapping accuracy is improved, but costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service approach where existing vehicles equipped with standard sensor suites (lidar, ultrasonic sensors, odometer, GPS) perform the mapping function autonomously. The vehicles act as mobile mapping units that collectively create and update the parking infrastructure map without requiring dedicated infrastructure-specific data collection systems. The system leverages the vehicles' existing sensors and communication capabilities to achieve mapping objectives, eliminating the need for complex on-site installations and specialized networking equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the mapping system universal by enabling any vehicle with standard sensors to participate in creating and updating parking infrastructure maps. The system is designed to work with commonly available vehicle sensors rather than requiring specialized equipment. This multi-functional approach allows the same sensor suite used for other vehicle functions (parking assistance, navigation, autonomous driving) to also serve the purpose of infrastructure mapping, thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple path data sets are collected and processed, then mapping completeness is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the path information processing into distinct functional steps: path extraction from sensor data, normalization to remove temporal information, identification of reference points, alignment with the reference network, and integration into the master map. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently and enables parallel processing of multiple path datasets. The system processes path segments rather than entire datasets at once, reducing computational burden while maintaining mapping completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where newly processed path data is continuously fed back into the master map for integration and validation. The system uses the reference point network as a feedback reference to verify and correct position data from multiple path datasets. This feedback loop allows the system to iteratively improve mapping accuracy and completeness while managing processing time through efficient data fusion algorithms that leverage existing map information to guide new data integration.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention discloses a method for creating a map of at least one parking infrastructure, wherein unoccupied parking spaces within the parking infrastructure are recorded, wherein path information and environmental information are received by an external server unit, path information is subdivided into path sections, the path sections are equalized by the external server unit, loop detection is carried out in order to create a geometric map of the parking infrastructure, and occupied and unoccupied parking spaces along the path are captured on the basis of the environmental information in order to determine unoccupied parking spaces within the parking infrastructure. An external server unit and a system are also disclosed.