Radar-Based Parking Space Detection for Automated Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking-assist systems for automated vehicles face challenges in determining whether a parking space can accommodate the host vehicle, especially when the rear-end positioning is obstructed by following traffic, leading to potential encroachment and failure in executing the parking maneuver.
Innovation Solution
A parking-assist system utilizing a radar sensor and controller to detect the distance between adjacent vehicles and determine if a parking space is large enough to accommodate the host vehicle, allowing for early detection and selection of the appropriate parking maneuver to prevent encroachment by following traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proximity sensors are used to detect parking-space accommodation, then the host-vehicle can determine parking feasibility, but the rear-end positioning forward of the parking-space prevents following-traffic from encroaching on the zone adjacent to the parking-space
Solution Approach 1:
The radar sensor detects the parking-space and calculates the required positioning distance in advance, before the host-vehicle enters the zone adjacent to the parking-space. This preliminary detection and calculation allows the vehicle to position itself correctly without needing to be forward of the parking-space, thereby preventing encroachment by following-traffic while still enabling reliable parking maneuver execution
2Measurement precision
If the rear-end of the host-vehicle is positioned forward of the open parking-space, then the proximity-sensor can detect the corner of the parked-vehicle, but this positioning allows following-traffic to encroach on the zone adjacent to the parking-space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/proximity-based sensor system with a radar-based detection system. The radar sensor can detect the corner of the parked-vehicle and calculate the parking-space dimensions from a greater distance, eliminating the need to position the rear-end forward of the parking-space and thus preventing encroachment by following-traffic
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 early detection and positioning of the host vehicle for a successful parking maneuver, preventing encroachment by following traffic and ensuring the parking space can accommodate the vehicle before arrival, thus enhancing the reliability of automated parking operations.
Implementation Method 1
The radar-sensor detects a first-vehicle and a second-vehicle adjacent to a travel-path of a host-vehicle. A distance between the first-vehicle and the second-vehicle defines a parking-space.
Data Source
AI summary
A parking-assist system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes a radar sensor and a controller. The radar-sensor detects a first-vehicle and a second-vehicle adjacent to a travel-path of a host-vehicle. A distance between the first-vehicle and the second-vehicle defines a parking-space. The controller is in communication with the radar-sensor. The controller determines the distance before the host-vehicle enters a zone of the travel-path adjacent to the parking-space. The zone has a length determined by the distance, and the controller determines when the parking-space is large enough to accommodate the host-vehicle based on the distance.