Parking Space Type Determination Using Frontal Camera Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic parking systems for vehicles fail to determine the type of parking maneuver needed, leading to inconvenient parking and are not effective in the absence of ground markings defining parking spaces.

Innovation Solution

A method using a frontal camera to detect and evaluate targets, such as parked vehicles, to determine the type of parking space, which includes filtering steps to reject imprecise or moving targets, and calculates sums of terms associated with detected targets to determine the most probable type of parking space, even without ground markings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ground markings are used to determine parking space type, then the determination is reliable, but the system fails when markings are absent or erased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetermination reliabilityVSAvoidfunctionality without markings

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parked vehicles as intermediary objects to infer parking space type. Instead of directly detecting ground markings, the system detects the orientation of parked vehicles (which serve as mediators) and uses this information to determine the parking space type, thereby functioning without relying on ground markings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system copies the orientation information from parked vehicles to determine the parking space type. By detecting the angle at which vehicles are parked relative to the road, the system replicates the information that would otherwise be provided by ground markings, enabling determination without direct marking detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If ultrasound sensors are used to detect parking spaces, then the system can detect objects, but the detection distance is too short causing available spaces to be traveled past

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of parked vehicles and their orientations at a distance using the frontal camera, well before the vehicle approaches the parking spaces. This advance detection and analysis of target orientation allows the system to determine parking space type and prepare appropriate maneuvers before the vehicle reaches the parking area, preventing missed opportunities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If driver selection is required for maneuver type, then accurate parking can be achieved, but driver convenience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparking accuracyVSAvoiddriver convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically determining the parking space type and selecting the appropriate maneuver without requiring driver input. By detecting parked vehicles and analyzing their orientations, the system autonomously identifies whether perpendicular or parallel parking is appropriate and executes the corresponding maneuver, eliminating the need for driver selection while maintaining parking accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11816903B2Method for determining a type of parking space

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A method for determining a type of parking space for a motor vehicle includes detecting a target, evaluating an orientation of the target relative to a road, and determining a type of parking space on the basis of the evaluated orientation. The detecting the target is implemented by a frontal camera of the vehicle.