Parking Space Detection Using Ultrasonic Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vision-based parking assistance techniques inaccurately detect parking spaces due to obstacles like water stains or weeds, leading to missed parking opportunities and reduced success rates.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that combines ultrasonic sensors with image capturing to verify the presence of obstacles in parking spaces, using image analysis to identify corner points and ultrasonic sensors to confirm the absence of obstacles, determining parking space locations based on line segments and central axes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If edge detection method is used to detect parking spaces, then the detection process is simple and fast, but the detection accuracy deteriorates due to false positives from water stains or weeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection speedVSAvoidparking space detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple detection methods (edge detection, contour analysis, and obstacle detection algorithms) into a unified parking space detection system. This integration allows the system to leverage the speed of edge detection while compensating for its accuracy limitations through additional verification steps using contour analysis and obstacle detection, thereby resolving the contradiction between detection speed and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary obstacle detection algorithm that acts as a mediator between the initial edge detection results and the final parking space determination. This intermediary layer analyzes potential obstacles within detected regions and filters false positives, allowing the system to maintain fast detection speed while improving accuracy by eliminating false detections caused by water stains or weeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple detection methods are combined to improve accuracy, then the detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking space detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the detection system into distinct functional modules: edge detection module, contour analysis module, and obstacle detection module. Each module performs a specific function and processes data independently before passing results to the next stage. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high detection accuracy through multiple verification steps while managing complexity by organizing functions into separate, manageable modules with clear interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enhances the accuracy of parking space detection by reducing false positives and improving the success rate of automatic parking.

Implementation Method 1

detecting whether an obstacle is present in the first available parking space using the ultrasonic sensor disposed at the rear of the vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic detection: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentEP3886075B1Parking space detection method and device
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 GUANGZHOU XIAOPENG MOTORS TECH CO LTD
  • EP3886075B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3886075B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3886075B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A parking space detection method and device, relating to the field of parking space detection technology. The method comprises: a parking space detection device capturing, by means of a camera provided at a rear view mirror of a vehicle, an environmental image of one side of the vehicle (101); detecting two adjacent first parking space corner points in the environmental image of the side of the vehicle (102); detecting, according to the environmental image of the side of the vehicle, whether an obstacle exists in an area between the two first parking space corner points (103); then using an ultrasonic sensor to detect whether an obstacle really exists in the area between the two parking space corner points (104); if it is determined by using the ultrasonic sensor that no obstacle exists, determining the position of a first available parking space by taking the connecting line of the two first parking space corner points as a reference (105), the central axis of the first available parking space passing through the middle point of the connecting line of the two first parking space corner points. The parking space detection method reduces missed detection of parking spaces, improving the success rate of automatic parking.