Parking Steering Assistant Transverse Space Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current parking assistance systems struggle to accurately detect the depth of perpendicular parking spaces, leading to insufficient support for drivers, as existing sensors can only detect obstacles within a limited range, making it difficult to determine if a parking space is sufficiently long for the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
The system automatically activates the automatic parking mode without driver input by detecting specific driver actions, such as engaging reverse gear, once a parking space is reliably identified as free of obstacles, and uses additional sensors to confirm the space's depth and length, ensuring safe parking without unnecessary queries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are used to detect obstacles in the surrounding area, then obstacle detection capability is improved, but the detection range is limited to about 4 meters, making it insufficient for detecting deep perpendicular parking spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the parking space area before activating automatic parking mode. It evaluates sensor data to determine if the area to be driven over is recognized as free of obstacles, and only then allows automatic parking activation, ensuring safe preliminary assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the sensors and the automatic parking activation. It processes sensor signals, evaluates parking space suitability, and mediates the activation condition based on whether the area is recognized as obstacle-free, bridging the gap between limited sensor range and parking space requirements
2Ease of operation
If automatic parking mode is activated without driver confirmation, then ease of operation is improved, but safety is compromised when parking space depth cannot be sufficiently detected
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring sensor data during the parking process. It evaluates whether the area to be driven over is recognized as free of obstacles and provides feedback to the control unit, which then determines whether to allow automatic parking activation without driver confirmation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-verification by automatically evaluating sensor data to determine parking space suitability. When the area is recognized as obstacle-free, the system can self-activate automatic parking mode without requiring additional driver confirmation, making the system serve itself
3Reliability
If driver confirmation is required for parking suggestion, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to unnecessary queries when parking space is clearly detectable
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial confirmation requirements based on detection confidence. When sensor data clearly shows the area is obstacle-free, no additional confirmation is needed. When detection is uncertain or the area cannot be fully recognized, the system requests driver confirmation, applying the appropriate level of action
4Device complexity
If sensors detect only up to 4 meters, then device complexity is kept low, but the ability to detect perpendicular parking spaces with vehicles longer than 4 meters is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the dimension of detection by evaluating the entire area to be driven over during the parking maneuver, not just the immediate surrounding. It uses the sensor data to assess the parking space depth and length in combination with the planned parking trajectory, adding a temporal and spatial dimension to the detection capability
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 allows for safe and efficient automatic parking in spaces with insufficiently detected depths, reducing the need for additional confirmation and ensuring the parking space is suitable for the vehicle's length, thereby improving parking assistance for both parallel and perpendicular spaces.
Implementation Method 1
Such sensors usually use a sound reflection principle. The sensor emits sound, preferably in a frequency range that is inaudible to humans, and measures the sound reflected from obstacles.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a parking steering assistant and to a method for assisting the parking of a motor vehicle (100, 201, 301). The parking steering assistant comprises at least one sensor (104, 206, 308) for detecting obstacles and/or free areas in an environment situated transversely with respect to a longitudinal direction (315) of the motor vehicle (100, 201, 301), an evaluation and control unit (103), which is coupled to the at least one sensor (104, 206, 308), for evaluating sensor signals of the at least one sensor (104, 206, 308) and controlling vehicle systems in order, when an automatic parking mode is activated, to park the motor vehicle (100, 201, 301) in a parking bay (204, 302) without a steering intervention by a driver, wherein the automatic parking mode can be activated by means of the detection of an action and/or a combination of actions of the driver. It is provided that the automatic parking mode can be directly activated without a driver input to confirm a parking proposal if it is reliably determined, on the basis of the detected obstacles and/or free areas for a parking bay (204, 302) into which the motor vehicle (100, 201, 301) can be automatically parked from its current position, that an area which is to be travelled over during parking is detected as being free from obstacles even taking into consideration predefined safety clearances and/or measurement tolerances of the at least one sensor (104; 206; 308), and a driver input to confirm a parking proposal is provided before the automatic parking mode can be activated if the area which is to be travelled over is detected as being not sufficiently free from obstacles.