Automated Valet Parking System Zone Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated valet parking systems face inefficiencies due to the need to wait for all vehicles to complete entry and exit operations before allowing new entries or exits, leading to reduced parking space utilization.

Innovation Solution

An automated valet parking system that includes a vehicle information acquirer, attention target space setter, attention target vehicle determiner, and vehicle instructor to identify and manage attention target spaces and vehicles, allowing entry or exit instructions to be given only after completion of operations by other vehicles in the vicinity, thereby optimizing space use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If new entry and exit operations are not started until all vehicles around the target parking space have completed their operations, then contact between vehicles is avoided, but the efficiency of use of the parking place decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle contact avoidanceVSAvoidparking place efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the parking place into multiple zones around the target parking space, identifying specific attention target spaces that may affect vehicle entry/exit operations. By monitoring only these segmented critical zones rather than the entire parking area, the system can safely allow operations in non-critical zones to proceed concurrently, thus improving overall efficiency while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different levels of monitoring and control to different spatial locations. Attention target spaces that are adjacent to or diagonally opposite the target parking space receive heightened attention and operational restrictions, while other areas maintain normal operation. This localized quality approach optimizes the balance between safety and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If all vehicles around the target parking space must complete entry and exit before new operations start, then vehicle safety is ensured, but wait time increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle safetyVSAvoidvehicle wait time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the monitoring scope into specific attention target spaces rather than requiring monitoring of all vehicles in the parking place. This segmentation allows vehicles in non-attention zones to operate without waiting, significantly reducing wait time while maintaining safety through focused monitoring of critical zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements partial monitoring and control actions by focusing only on vehicles in attention target spaces rather than all vehicles. This partial action approach is sufficient to ensure safety for the target vehicle while allowing concurrent operations elsewhere, thereby reducing overall wait time and improving throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If all vehicles around the target parking space must complete operations before new operations, then contact prevention is achieved, but system throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle contact preventionVSAvoidsystem throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the parking place into attention target spaces and non-attention spaces. By restricting operational coordination only to vehicles in attention target spaces (adjacent and diagonally opposite positions), the system prevents contact in critical zones while allowing parallel operations in non-critical zones, thus maintaining contact prevention while improving throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies enhanced safety monitoring and operational coordination locally to specific attention target spaces that have potential impact on the target vehicle, while allowing normal operations elsewhere. This local quality approach ensures contact prevention where needed without unnecessarily restricting system-wide throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4169808A1Automated valet parking system, control method for automated valet parking system, and non-transitory storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4169808A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4169808A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4169808A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An automated valet parking system (1) that performs automated valet parking includes an attention target space setter (13) configured to set, based on a target parking space of an entry vehicle and parking place map information including entrance position information of a parking place (50), attention target spaces (W) that are parking spaces that affect entry of the entry vehicle when any other vehicle is entering or exiting the attention target spaces (W) among parking spaces (61) around the target parking space, and a vehicle instructor (16) configured to, when determination is made that attention target vehicles that are autonomous driving vehicles (2) entering or exiting the attention target spaces (W) are present, give an entry start instruction to the entry vehicle after determination is made that all the attention target vehicles have completed entry or exit from the parking spaces (61).