Unmarked Parking Space Management via Image Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmarked parking areas require numerous human attendants to direct vehicles, as there is a lack of efficient systems for creating and managing parking spaces in such environments, leading to inefficiencies in vehicle parking and traffic flow.
Innovation Solution
A parking management system that uses computer-executable instructions and image processing to define and manage unmarked parking spaces, communicate navigation instructions to vehicles, and utilize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to guide vehicles to assigned spaces, reducing the need for human attendants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If human attendants are used to direct vehicles in unmarked parking areas, then vehicle guidance and traffic flow management are achieved, but operational costs and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables vehicles to self-guide through the unmarked parking area using autonomous navigation capabilities. Sensors detect parking space boundaries and the vehicle automatically steers itself to park without human attendants, transforming a service requiring human intervention into a self-service system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human attendants physically directing vehicles with an automated system using sensors, processors, and vehicle control interfaces. The human element is substituted with electronic detection and communication systems that automatically guide vehicle positioning.
2Quantity of substance
If unmarked parking areas are used to increase parking capacity, then more vehicles can be accommodated, but the lack of defined spaces reduces parking efficiency and increases management difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of parking space boundaries and vehicle characteristics before the actual parking process. By pre-processing spatial information and vehicle data, the system can efficiently allocate and guide vehicles to appropriate spaces, improving overall parking productivity despite the unmarked environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vehicle position, parking space occupancy, and boundary detection data, using this feedback to dynamically adjust guidance instructions and optimize parking space utilization. This closed-loop control enables efficient management of unmarked areas by adapting to real-time conditions.
3Reliability
If manual vehicle direction is implemented in unmarked areas, then safety can be maintained through human oversight, but time consumption and operational inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual safety monitoring with automated sensor arrays and processing systems that continuously detect boundaries, obstacles, and vehicle positions. This substitution maintains safety through machine-based monitoring while eliminating the time loss associated with human coordination and communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system provides continuous safety monitoring and guidance without interruption, unlike manual systems that require periodic human intervention. The continuous operation of sensors and processing ensures constant safety oversight while maintaining steady vehicle flow, reducing overall parking time.
Data Source
AI summary
Example parking management systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives an image that includes a parking area for the unmarked parking of vehicles. The method defines a plurality of unmarked parking spaces in the parking area and assigns a first vehicle to a first unmarked parking space in the parking area.