Perpendicular Parking Orientation Detection Using Vehicle Light Cues
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking assistance systems struggle to accurately detect the orientation of adjacent vehicles in perpendicular parking spaces due to the difficulty in recognizing hidden or internal components like steering wheels, leading to inadequate orientation determination during parking operations.
Innovation Solution
The method employs an optical detection unit to generate images of adjacent vehicles, evaluating the presence of headlights or taillights to determine their orientation, with additional search fields and color analysis to precisely identify these light sources, and optionally uses radar sensors to confirm vehicle positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If internal components like steering wheels are used to determine vehicle orientation, then orientation information can be obtained, but detection difficulty increases significantly due to concealed position and dashboard obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the orientation detection function from internal components (steering wheel) to external components (headlights and taillights). By using externally visible light sources instead of concealed internal components, the system achieves the same orientation determination goal while dramatically reducing detection difficulty. The steering wheel position is replaced by headlight/taillight visibility patterns that can be observed from outside the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light sources (headlights and taillights) as intermediary elements to transmit orientation information. Instead of directly observing the steering wheel, the system uses the visibility of external light sources as an intermediary indicator of vehicle orientation. This intermediary approach allows remote detection without direct observation of the concealed steering wheel.
2Loss of information
If steering wheel position is used to determine forward or backward parking, then orientation can be detected, but detection reliability decreases due to multiple possible positions and dashboard coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the ambiguous steering wheel indicator and extracts orientation information from the clearly visible headlight/taillight configuration. This extraction eliminates the information loss and reliability issues associated with partially concealed steering wheel positions, as external light sources provide unambiguous orientation cues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color/light source type differentiation (headlights vs. taillights) to encode orientation information. By detecting which external light sources are visible and their characteristic colors, the system reliably determines whether the vehicle is parked forward or backward, replacing the unreliable steering wheel position method.
3Productivity
If conventional detection methods are used for adjacent vehicle orientation, then basic detection is possible, but detection precision and speed are insufficient for efficient parking operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/optical detection methods with image processing and pattern recognition techniques. Instead of using complex mechanical sensors or traditional optical systems to detect steering wheel position, the system captures images and automatically processes them to identify headlight/taillight patterns, significantly improving both precision and operational speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy (image) of the vehicle's external features and processes this copy to determine orientation. By capturing and analyzing an image of the headlight/taillight configuration rather than directly measuring physical components, the system achieves rapid, precise orientation detection that enhances parking operation efficiency.
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 approach enables more precise and efficient detection of adjacent vehicle orientations, improving parking accuracy by utilizing easily recognizable external light sources and reducing the effort required for detection, even under various perspectives.
Implementation Method 1
an optical detection unit (7) of the vehicle generates at least one image (17) of the additional vehicle before the vehicle is parked in the first perpendicular parking space
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for parking a vehicle (1) in a first perpendicular parking space (2), wherein the position and/or orientation of another vehicle (5, 6) in the second perpendicular parking space (3, 4) is determined and the target position and/or target orientation of the vehicle (1) in the first perpendicular parking space (2) is determined in accordance therewith, wherein at least one optical sensing unit (7) of the vehicle (1) generates at least one image (17) of the at least one other vehicle (5, 6) before the vehicle (1) parks in the first perpendicular parking space (2), and the image (17) is evaluated to determine whether a front headlight (11', 12') or a rear light (11, 12) of the other vehicle (5, 6) can be recognised on the image (17), and the orientation of the other vehicle (5, 6) is determined in accordance therewith. The invention further relates to a parking assistance system (16).