Perpendicular Parking Orientation Detection Using Vehicle Light Positions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the orientation of adjacent vehicles in perpendicular parking spaces are inadequate due to the difficulty in detecting steering wheels, which are often hidden and internally located, making it challenging to accurately assess the orientation of vehicles during the parking process.
Innovation Solution
A method and park assistance system that uses an optical detection unit to generate images of adjacent vehicles, identifying and evaluating taillights and headlights to determine the orientation, with specific search fields and color analysis to precisely recognize and differentiate these light sources, allowing for improved detection and orientation determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If steering wheel position is used to determine vehicle orientation, then orientation information can be obtained, but detection difficulty increases because steering wheels are hidden and internally located
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the orientation detection function from internal vehicle components (steering wheel) to external visible components (headlights and taillights). By detecting the position and orientation of these external light sources, the system determines vehicle orientation without needing to detect hidden internal components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces headlights and taillights as intermediary objects that mediate between the vehicle orientation (target information) and the detection system. These light sources serve as visible proxies that reveal vehicle orientation without requiring direct detection of the steering wheel.
2Loss of information
If internal vehicle components are used for orientation detection, then orientation information can be obtained, but detection reliability decreases due to limited external visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts orientation detection from unreliable internal components to reliable external components. Headlights and taillights are always visible from outside the vehicle, providing consistent and reliable orientation information regardless of vehicle interior configuration or camera positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the distinct color characteristics of headlights (typically white or yellow) and taillights (typically red) to reliably identify vehicle orientation. The color differentiation provides an additional reliable cue for determining which end of the vehicle is facing which direction.
3Measurement precision
If steering wheel detection is used to determine parking orientation, then orientation can be assessed, but detection speed decreases due to difficulty in locating hidden components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts orientation detection to externally visible light sources, enabling rapid detection without searching for hidden steering wheels. The optical detection unit can immediately identify headlights and taillights in the camera field of view, significantly reducing detection time and improving parking process 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
Enables faster and more precise detection of adjacent vehicle orientations by utilizing external light sources like taillights and headlights, reducing the complexity of determining vehicle orientation and improving the accuracy of parking assistance systems.
Implementation Method 1
By means of an optical detection unit of the vehicle, at least one image of the additional vehicle is generated before parking the vehicle in the first perpendicular parking space
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a method for parking a vehicle in a first perpendicular parking space, wherein the position and/or the orientation of another vehicle is determined in the second perpendicular parking space and, depending thereupon, the target position and/or the target orientation of the vehicle in the first perpendicular parking space is determined, wherein by means of at least one optical detection unit of the vehicle, at least one image of the at least one other vehicle is generated before parking the vehicle in the first perpendicular parking space, and the image is evaluated as to whether a headlight or a taillight of the other vehicle is recognized in the image, and depending thereupon, the orientation of the other vehicle is determined.