The automatic parking system helps to park the vehicle in automatic or automated mode when only some functions are working.

In operating instructions and in everyday life of car owners, the following names are found:

• Parking autopilot.
• Intelligent parking assistance system.
• Park Assist and others.

The task of the device is to assist in parallel and perpendicular parking by monitoring and changing two parameters - the steering angle and speed.

The importance of parking

Parking is one of the most difficult maneuvers that only experienced and "sensible" car owners can handle.

It is enough to look at the streets of modern cities to understand the scale of the problem. Cars are parked everywhere - on sidewalks, on playgrounds and the roadway.

In such a situation, interference is created for participants. road traffic and prerequisites for new accidents.

The presence of an automatic parking system can eliminate the problem described above and help the driver to park the vehicle correctly.

In practice, Park Assist makes it easier for the driver to do more than just parking vehicle, but also when driving in dense traffic.

The advantages of an intelligent system include:

• A car with Park Assist can take a seat even in a small space without hitting another vehicle. Not all car owners are able to cope with such a task without a special assistant. In addition, the presence of an intelligent system allows you to put cars close to each other and take up less space, which is important in a tight city.
• If the car owner carries out parallel parking, the process can take several seconds, and in the absence of proper experience, it often takes minutes. Other drivers have to slow down and congestion builds up.
• The automatic parking system guarantees protection from scratches and dents, the appearance of which is possible if the vehicle is incorrectly positioned. As a result, the number of calls to insurance companies decreases and the likelihood of scandals due to frequent road accidents decreases.

When the automatic parking system appeared, its purpose

Park Assist was introduced 11 years ago in 2006. The pioneer in this matter was Volkswagen, which introduced the system to its Touran model.

Since the release of the system, engineers have been working tirelessly to improve the device, making it more efficient and independent of the driver's actions.

Volkswagen has managed to solve the problem of many megacities - Berlin, Paris, London, Moscow and other cities.

With the new Park Assist, two tasks have been solved:

• Unload the driver and help him in difficult conditions;
• Improve the efficiency of parking space by increasing vehicle density.

Intelligent system amazed automotive world... Park Assist features allow you to automatically park your car, without driver intervention.

The device independently scrolls the role, determines the trajectory and puts the vehicle in the most suitable place. The main function is performed by the autopilot. It is he who rotates the steering wheel and ensures the exact location of the car in the free area.

Interestingly, the first versions of the automatic parking system had limited capabilities and helped to park the car only parallel to the road.

Difficulties also arose with finding a place for a car that exceeded the length of 1.4 meters.

By 2010, many of the problems had been resolved, and automatic parking became faster.

In 2012, the engineers further improved Park Assist and allowed the car to be parked at an angle to the right shoulder.

With the development of technology, algorithms were complicated, more accurate ultrasonic sensors appeared, which quickly assessed the situation and sent a signal to the "brain" of the system.

As a result, the stock of space required for parking has dropped to 0.9 meters.

The last "nut" concerning forward parking was solved only recently - in 2015. And here again the engineers of the Volkswagen company distinguished themselves. Now the stock has decreased to 0.8 meters.

In addition, Park Assist "taught" emergency braking, which allows, if not completely avoid, then at least reduce the risk of collision.

Which car manufacturers have implemented this system, and what is their name?

Few people know, but the automatic parking system has different manufacturers has individual names, which introduces a certain misunderstanding in the ranks of car owners.

The following names are used:

• Volkswagen - Park Assist as well as Park Assist Vision;
• Toyota and Lexus - Intelligent Parking Assist System;
• Opel - Advanced Park Assist;
• Ford and Mercedes Benz - Active Park Assist;
• BMW - Remote Park Assist System and others.

As you can see, in all cases, the Park Assist root is used, which allows car owners to easily identify the system.

Park Assist, what's included?

Regardless of the given name, the structure and operation of the automatic parking system, as a rule, remains unchanged. So, the device includes:

• Control unit ("brain" of the system).
• A set of ultrasonic sensors.
• Display and control panel.
• Executive devices.

Each of the elements of the system assumes the performance of some specific functions.

So, ultrasonic sensors determine the distance to the nearest object and operate in a range of up to 4.5 meters. The number of sensors may vary depending on the system.

The classic version of Park Assist in Volkswagen vehicles has a total of 12 ultrasonic sensors, four each in front, rear, left and right.

Park Assist is switched on manually when the car owner needs to park.

The ECU receives signals from ultrasonic sensors and generates commands when interacting with other devices. The Park Assist control unit acts as a link.

The system also includes a screen with information that the car owner can use to park.

How does Park Assist work?

For the full operation of the automatic parking system, other auxiliary units must be installed on the car - an automatic transmission, electromechanical amplifier steering wheel, engine ECU and stability control system.

But this is not enough - actuators are required to change the position of the steering wheel.

Park Assist is conventionally divided into two stages. First, a search is made for a place to park the car, after which parking is carried out directly.

Let's consider each of the stages in more detail:

• When looking for a place, ultrasonic sensors work, of which there are 12 in the Park Assist system from Volkswagen (four on each side). When the car is moving near curbs installed at the curb, auto sensors determine the distance. For an accurate calculation of this parameter, the speed should be up to 40 km / h in parallel parking, and up to 20 km / h in transverse parking.

Further, the information from the sensors goes to the ECU and is processed. As soon as the distance is optimal, the driver hears a signal and displays information on the monitor display. The optimum distance for Park Assist is 80 cm, and for Advanced Park Assist it is 100 cm.

• The next stage is parking the car. There are two possible ways here - with the participation of the driver or fully automatic. All instructions (textual and visual) are reflected in the information display and refer to recommendations for steering the wheel to a specific angle. This automated parking option is used by Advanced Park Assist.

The automatic parking process is carried out taking into account the impact on the vehicle's mechanisms, namely:

• Throttle valve electric motor in the motor control system;
• Electrical engine throttle flaps ECU;
• A pump that provides a return flow, as well as a brake valve for the stability control system;
• Automatic transmission solenoid valves.

Automakers have begun to bring to the market automatic self-parking systems (they are still called by the common people " car autopilots") influenced by consumer demand. Indeed, it is often the most dangerous part of driving, and this is the case when almost everyone has a chance to make a mistake at some point. People who live in big cities have to do it every day. , stress and uncertainty of this chore is a very attractive and relevant action.

Automatic parking systems have different names from different manufacturers:

• In Toyota vehicles, automatic parking systems are called " Intelligent Parking Assist System"(IPAS).
• Volkswagen calls them "Park Assist" or " Park assist vision".
• On Mercedes-Benz and Ford cars - " Active park assist"
• On bMW cars - "Remote Park Assist System".

Automatic car parking can also help solve some of the problems of not only parking, but also traffic in dense urban areas. Sometimes parking a car in a space is limited by the skill of the driver. A self-parking vehicle can fit in surprisingly small spaces that most drivers simply cannot handle on their own. This makes it easier for the driver to find a parking space, and also allows the same number of cars to take up much less space than self-parking. When someone, for example, parks in parallel, they often block the lane for traffic, at least for a few seconds. And if the driver has a problem with this, then it can drag on for a few minutes and seriously disrupt traffic.

Automatic parking operation car nissan In action

Finally, parking difficulties often lead to a large number small dents and scratches. Automatic parking technology prevents many of these failures, thus even saving the driver money, as you are much less likely to have to worry about car damage insurance claims.

Automatic parking technology is used more often for parallel parking situations. Most people need several times more parking space than the total length of their car in order to successfully park in parallel, although some drivers may do so in a smaller area.

We will not fully describe the steps that must be performed in order to park in parallel, we will describe them only briefly:

1. You pass the selected parking spot a little ahead.
2. Turn in the direction where you plan to stand.
3. Drive back, starting to enter the parking lot.
4. Straighten the steering wheel and drive back a little more.
5. Turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction and move in this way in front of the car towards the "curb".
6. Turn the steering wheel in the direction of the "curb" again and drive forward so that the distance between your and neighboring cars (front and rear) is approximately equal.

Currently, most car models are dominated by fully automatic parking assistance systems, however, there are also semi-automatic ones. Let's look at semi-automatic parking first.

The driver, in the case of the semi-automatic parking assistance system, still regulates the vehicle speed by pressing and releasing the brake pedal ( idle move the vehicle is sufficient to move it to the parking space without pressing the accelerator pedal). As soon as the parking process begins, the on-board computer takes over control of the steering.

The car moves forward to a position next to the front car, and a special signal lets the driver know when to stop. The driver then pushes the car backward and releases the brake slightly to begin reversing. Using power steering, the computer turns the wheels and maneuvers the car perfectly, driving it into a parking space. When the vehicle has traveled far enough backward, or has driven too close to an obstacle behind, the signal again tells the driver to stop and shift into forward gear (or Drive mode). The car again goes forward, while the wheels, still controlled by the on-board computer, maneuver it in space. The final signal (sometimes a pleasant female voice that says something like "parking complete") "sums up" the successful completion of the parking.

Different self parking systems have different ways of scanning (detecting) objects around the vehicle. Some have parking sensors (parking sensors) distributed around the front and rear bumpers of the vehicle, which act as both transmitters and receivers. These sensors transmit signals that are reflected off objects around the vehicle and then receive them back. The car's computer then calculates the amount of time it took to return the signals to calculate the distance to such objects. Other systems even use cameras mounted on bumpers or a special radar to detect objects, which works in a similar way to how parking sensors work. The end result is the same: the car detects other parked cars, the size of the parking lot and the distance to curbs, and then guides the car in space based on the model built from these scans in the computer. One of the significant differences between conventional parking sensors and parking sensors in an automatic parking system is that their range in the latter is much higher (up to 5 meters).

A fully automatic parking system differs from a semi-automatic in the first place in two important ways: the driver not only does not need to "play" with the brake pedal, he only needs to press one single button, and the car even independently finds a parking space, scanning parking spaces with sufficient area. In addition, often the automatic parking system also includes a semi-automatic - the second is a particular of the first, that is, you can simply turn off the fully automatic parking and park partially on your own. At the same time, in both cases, the projection (top view or three-dimensional image) of the parking space and the position of the car relative to it will always be displayed on the on-board computer display.

Hello dear guests and readers of the automotive blog Avtoguid.ru. Today in the article you can find out about what constitutes automatic car parking system... For many drivers, parking a car is a sensitive topic that requires an accessible explanation. Often not everyone can park in a close lane of cars. The problem does not have a pronounced gender identity. Women and men alike experience parking difficulties.

In this article, we will describe the work of a useful automatic parking system that made the life of a driver in a large city easier. Its task is to ensure the optimal position of the car during parking and prevent collisions with other vehicles. Every day, hundreds and thousands of small traffic accidents are recorded on the streets of cities. Material damage in them is minimal, but the person's peace of mind and tranquility will be undermined.

The automatic parking system of a car remotely resembles the autopilot used on an airplane. More recently, car manufacturers have begun installing equipment that fully automates the process of parking a vehicle. Drivers greeted the introduction of the system with great interest. Automatic parking began to gain more and more popularity among car enthusiasts.

The number of companies deciding to use the automatic parking system in new car models has increased exponentially. If the first models of devices had some flaws, then the latest solutions in the field of automated parking were distinguished by impeccable implementation accuracy. It is convenient and easy to work with them. The driver quickly gets used to the car autopilot, but still, after hundreds of successful parking attempts, he never ceases to be amazed at the filigree of his work.

Every major automaker has acquired its own development of an automatic parking system for a car. AT different brands they have different names. The principle of operation of the system remains unchanged - to fully automate the process of parking the car.

Despite their own unique developments of automobile concerns regarding the introduction of an automatic parking system, their principle of operation is practically the same. It is based on the minimum participation of the driver in parking the car.

Previously, he had to perform a lot of manipulation of the steering wheel, and parking success depended on having sufficient experience. Now all movements of the steering wheel are controlled by a special control unit that works according to special algorithms.

To activate the automatic parking system, the driver only needs to enter the parking lot. You need to stop and press the coveted parking autopilot activation button. You can install a dedicated mobile phone application.

The signal is received and now all control systems of the machine are transferred under the control of the electronics. The “smart” system independently chooses the further trajectory of movement, adjusts the turns of the wheels of the car and the driver can only sit with folded hands.

His participation in the work of the parking system is to activate it. Experts have long noticed that side parking is the most difficult for drivers. It requires skills brought to the point of automatism. If the driver gets lost and becomes nervous, the parking time is relentlessly delayed. Often such actions led to the formation of a traffic jam.

How does parking automation work on a car?

A car parking system is made up of several major components. Their well-coordinated work guarantees a successful and fast car parking. The automatic parking system includes:

Ultrasonic sensors

Provide vehicle orientation in space. They are his "eyes" and "ears". Determine the distance to movable and immovable objects. Their number may vary depending on the system model.

The sensors are placed around the perimeter of the machine. The more, the better. They scan the environment and transmit a signal to the control unit. The range is on average over 4 meters.

Parking control unit

It is the "brain" of the system. It receives signals from ultrasonic sensors. He processes them and uses other car control systems for successful parking.

Vehicle stability control system

In car parking mode, it is controlled by the control unit. Responsible for keeping the car in a given trajectory.

Engine

Comes under the full control of the car parking system. The speed is regulated and the intensity of the fuel supply is monitored.

Steering

The steering wheel is rotated based on signals transmitted by ultrasonic sensors. Its intensity is determined by the car parking system in real time. No driver involvement is required.

Automatic transmission

P goes under the control of the car park. Switching between "parking" and "drive" modes is electronically controlled.

For safety reasons and to avoid emergency situations, the driver, as well as the pilot, is able to take control at any time. Numerous tests have shown the high reliability of the latest automatic parking systems. They are convenient and safe to use.

What awaits drivers with the development of an automatic parking system?

The development of technology in the automotive industry is proceeding at an unprecedented pace. Many companies are losing the glory of tradition automotive production and give way to "a place in the sun" for beginners. Famous company Ilona Mask "wiped" the nose of the skeptics and put the venerable ones to shame car manufacturers... Their "Tesla" has gone far ahead, and it will be difficult to catch up with similar developments.

The future belongs to the systems of global automation of human life. The car cannot escape this fate. Sooner or later, the profession of a driver will die out, like mammoths in the era of global cooling. This will be the era of global electronic controlbased on full automation algorithms.

The automatic parking system is the first timid step towards fully automating vehicle control. Google has been working in this direction for a long time and has already achieved impressive results. They created a whole artificial city to test driverless cars.

Conclusion

Any simplification of the driver's life while driving is met by everyone positively. The machine is filled with automation and control systems. It is necessary and possible to use automatic parking, but do not forget about driving skills. Without use, they become dull like a knife that has not been used for a long time.

Automatic parking system (another name - intelligent parking aid, everyday name - parking autopilot) refers to active parking systems, because provides car parking in automatic or automated (individual functions are performed automatically) mode.

Evolution of parking systems: from parking sensors to automatic parking systems.

Parking and maneuvering in tight spaces is challenging for both a beginner and experienced driver... The main problem of parking is the inability to see the extreme points of the car from the driver's seat and estimate how far away the obstacles are. This problem became most acute twenty years ago, when there were more and more cars and fewer and fewer parking spaces.

The first practical solution to the problem was presented in 1995, when Mercedes-Bens introduced a system called Parktronic. It was a system of several ultrasonic sensors and a beeper indicator. This system worked very simply: the sensors measured the distance to obstacles, and the beeper, by changing the frequency of the sound signal, warned when to stop.

This system proved to be its best, although it lacked a good and convenient signaling about the approach to an obstacle. Therefore, parktronics with visual LED indication appeared very soon. At first, this indication consisted of three LEDs, the color of which indicated the approximate distance to the obstacle: green - you can move, yellow or orange - danger is close, red - you need to stop.

As practice has shown, parking sensors with ultrasonic sensors and visual indication are simple, convenient and reliable, therefore they are widely used today. Although for last years they have been improved to be more sensitive and comfortable. As for the indication, it has also become more informative - even in simple parking sensors, the indicators show the distance to obstacles to the right and left of the car, in many parking sensors, the display shows everything that happens around the perimeter of the car, etc.

However, parktronic even with the most advanced indication is not always able to completely replace the driver's eyes. For example, when parking a truck, bus or large car, you just need to see what is happening behind, therefore, in such cases, parking and maneuvering often occurs with the help of an assistant.

A solution to this problem was also proposed in the 1990s, it was a parking sensor with a rear-view camera. Attempts to create such a system have been proposed for a very long time (since the 1950s), but only recently has technology made it possible to create a small-sized camera, a lightweight monitor and electronics that would easily fit into passenger car... It is interesting that the first parking sensors with a rear-view camera began to be used precisely on trucks and buses, and only with the beginning of the new millennium they smoothly migrated to cars.

The first parking sensors of this type were equipped with a single camera located in the rear of the car - such systems are very popular even now, as they are simple, reliable and provide enough information to the driver. In 2000, a retractable camera system appeared, which allowed you to inspect the area around the car. And since 2007, all-round vision systems have been produced (the first was created by Nissan), in which 4 wide-angle cameras are used, covering the entire space around the perimeter of the car.

But all these are passive parking systems, they only help to see and "feel" the space around, but they leave the most difficult work - maneuvering - to the driver. Now this problem is solved by automatic parking systems, which perform all the work - from searching for free space (Fig. 1), to setting and leaving the car from the parking space - without the driver's assistance.

Fig. 1 Finding a parking spot

The first automatic parking systems were created in the mid-2000s by several car companies at once, and since then they have been rapidly developing, becoming more and more intelligent. If the first systems could only drive into a fairly spacious pocket, today they can park a car almost anywhere, regardless of how other cars are standing.

To date, automatic parking systems have not yet received the widespread distribution that conventional parking sensors have, although the reason is understandable - such systems are quite expensive, therefore, as options or standard systems, they are included only in cars of the above average price category.

Types and methods of parking.

Various automatic parking systems assist with parallel parking, perpendicular parking. Systems with parallel parking are more common. Automatic parking is carried out by coordinated control of the steering wheel angle and vehicle speed.

Known types of intelligent parking assistance systems:

Park assist on cars Volkswagen;

Park assist vision on cars Volkswagen;

Intelligent Parking Assist System on cars Toyota, Lexus;

Remote Park Assist System on cars BMW;

Active park assist on cars Mercedes-Benz, Ford;

Advanced park assist on cars Opel.

The design of the automatic parking system (Fig. 2) includes ultrasonic sensors, a switch, the electronic unit control, as well as actuators of vehicle systems.

Fig. 2 Construction of the automatic parking system

1 - Module of the parking aid system; 2 - Front and rear speaker; 3 - Front sensor for parking assistance; 4 - Switch for parking assistance; 5 - Integrated control module (ICM); 6 - Power amplifier; 7 - Rear parking aid sensor.

AT intelligent system parking assistance uses ultrasonic sensors similar to the passive parking system (Fig. 3), but with a longer range (up to 4.5 m). The number of sensors differs depending on the type of system. For example, in the latest generation Park Assist system, 12 ultrasonic sensors are installed: 4 in front, 4 in the rear and 4 on the sides of the car.

Figure: 3 Passive parking system

The system is turned on forcibly if necessary to park. For this, there is a special switch on the instrument panel (steering wheel).

The electronic control unit receives signals from ultrasonic sensors and converts them into control actions on actuators, which are other vehicle systems: directional stability, engine control, electric power steering, automatic transmission gear. Interaction with these systems is carried out through the appropriate electronic control units.

The information required for automatic parking is shown on the information display and is used by the driver while parking.

Stages of the automatic parking system.

The work of the automatic parking system can be conditionally divided into two stages (Fig. 4): finding a suitable place in the parking lot and actually performing the parking.

Figure: 4 Stages of automatic parking

Finding a suitable parking spot.

It is performed using ultrasonic sensors (Fig. 5). For example, Park Assist has four lateral ultrasonic sensors for this purpose, two on each side of the vehicle. When a car moves along a row of parked cars at a certain speed (up to 40 km / h in parallel parking and up to 20 km / h in transverse parking), sensors record the distance between them, and in the Park Assist Vision system, their position relative to the vehicle (parallel or perpendicular).

Figure: 5 Finding a suitable parking spot

The sensor signals are processed by the electronic control unit. If the parking distance is sufficient, the system sends a signal to the driver - displays the relevant information on the vehicle information display. In Park Assist, a distance exceeding the length of the vehicle by 0.8 m is taken as a sufficient parking distance, in Advanced Park Assist - by 1 m.

It can be carried out in two ways - directly by the driver using the instructions offered by the system or automatically without the participation of the driver (Fig. 6).

Figure: 6 Vehicle parking

Visual and test instructions to the driver are shown on the information display. They relate to recommendations for turning the steering wheel at a certain angle and direction of travel. This type of automated parking is used in Advanced Park Assist.

Executive elements involved in automatic parking.

Automatic parking is carried out by orderly action on the actuators of the vehicle systems:

Electric power steering motor;

Return pump and brake valves for the stability control system;

Electric motor throttle engine control systems;

Automatic transmission solenoid valves.

For the purpose of traffic safety, the system can always be switched from automatic mode to manual mode. In the latest designs of the system, automatic parking can be carried out when the driver is in the car or outside it - with a key.

Operating principle, data transmission, signal processing.

When the parking aid module activates the system to indicate that the system is operating, the switch LED turns on and a single beep is emitted from the front and rear speakers. The parking assist module processes the signals received from the sensors to determine if there is an object within the sensors' range.
In the combined mode, the sensors issue a series of ultrasonic pulses and then switch to the mode of receiving the sound reflected from the obstacle within the range. The received reflected signals are amplified and converted from analog to digital in the sensor itself. The digital signal is passed to the parking aid module and compared with the programmed data in the module's EEPROM. The control module receives this data from the sensor via the signal transmission line and calculates the distance to the obstacle by the time interval between the irradiation of the obstacle and the reception of the reflected signal. The pulse duration is determined by the module, which uses a sensor to control the frequency of the output pulse.

In receiver mode, a sensor receives pulses emitted from adjacent sensors. The control module uses this information to accurately determine the position and distance to the obstacle.

If no obstacles are detected, there are no additional warning signals. If an obstacle is detected, repeated beeps are emitted from the respective front or rear speakers. The signaling interval decreases as the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle decreases. At a distance of approximately 250 mm, the audible signal becomes continuous.

If, after the initial detection of an obstacle, the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle does not decrease, the sound of the warning signal remains unchanged if the obstacle is detected by the center sensor, or the signal stops sounding after 3 seconds if the obstacle is detected by the angle sensor.

The audible signals stop when the vehicle is moved out of the reverse gear position. The module continues to monitor the distance and resumes warning signals if a decrease in distance is detected.

The system is canceled when the parking aid switch is pressed or the ignition is switched off. The system is also canceled if the vehicle travels more than 50 m or the forward speed of the vehicle exceeds 30 km / h.

The system can detect the connection of the trailer to the vehicle using the medium speed CAN message from the trailer module. When the parking aid module detects that a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the rear sensors are disabled to prevent continuous warning due to the proximity of the trailer.

The parking aid module also contains software that compensates for the effects of frost, icing or rain on the sensors. Icing is compensated if the outside temperature received in the medium speed CAN message from the instrument cluster is less than 6 ° C.

Interaction of control units and components (Fig. 7)

Figure: 7 Control units and components

Note: A - permanent wired connection; N - Medium speed CAN bus; P - Fiber optic bus MOST

1 - Battery; 2 - Electrical distribution box; 3 - Auxiliary electrical distribution box; 4 - Central electrical distribution box (CJB); 5 - Transmission control module (TCM); 6 - Anti-lock braking system (ABS) module; 7 - trailer module; 8 - Integrated control module (ICM); 9 - Power amplifier; 10 - Front speakers of the audio system; 11 - Rear speakers of the audio system; 12 - Rear parking aid sensor; 13 - Module of the parking aid system; 14 - Switch for parking assistance; 15 - Front parking aid sensor.

Features and disadvantages of the system:

Low speed of maneuvers. The system performs all actions and maneuvers slowly, at a minimum speed, so automatic parking may take longer than manual;
- System errors when identifying obstacles. Quite often, automation does not recognize curbs, drifts, posts and other obstacles, which leads to unpleasant consequences;
- Incorrect operation of the system due to weather conditions and environmental factors. Errors can be caused by dirty sensors, heavy snowfall or rain, which should always be kept in mind.

Sources:

1. http://systemsauto.ru/active/active_park.html
2. http://vkjournal.ru/doc/104687
3. http://www.lrman.ru/freelander/2/electrics/parking/principles_of_parking_assistant
4. http://www.autoopt.ru/articles/products/4528605/
5. http://auto.mail.ru/article/26175-novye_mercedes_a_v_i_s/

The automatic parking system has already found its fans, but the autonomous one is just beginning to search. Let's talk about the principle of work, the types of the system and what it consists of.

The content of the article:

Speaking of the fact that the car can park on its own, now you will not surprise anyone. It is more commonly known as automatic car parking. Progress does not stand still and BMW has stepped forward faster than anyone by offering the Remote Valet Parking Assistant autonomous parking system. In another way, it is a remote parking assistant.

But these progressive systems are based on older, working patterns. In this case, it is an automatic parking system, which is now found on many modern cars, not even new.

Automatic car parking system

This auxiliary system is referred to as active systems security. The main purpose is automatic parking of the car with the participation of the driver.

This is not to say that the system exists in one form. This system can be used for parallel or perpendicular parking. Systems with parallel parking are more common. Parking is based on the vehicle speed and wheel angle.

Different companies call the system differently:

• Volkswagen - Park Assist, PAV;
• Lexus or Toyota - IPAS;
• Opel - Advanced Park Assist;
• Ford or Mercedes-Benz - APA;
• BMW - RPA System.

Parking system mechanisms

The main components are ultrasonic sensors, followed by switches, an electronic control unit and other executive devices of the machine.

It is worth considering that without additional systems, automatic parking will not be able to work. So, for example, this is the power steering, on-board computer some models only need an automatic transmission.

Ultrasonic sensors in the system are similar to passive system parking, but have a longer range, this is about 4.5 m. Depending on the manufacturer of the system and the car brand, the number of sensors may differ. Typically 12 ultrasonic sensors are installed, 4 on the side of the vehicle, four in front and four behind the vehicle.

The system is activated forcibly by turning on a button on the instrument panel, or steering wheel when the driver plans to park. When the system is activated, the electronic unit begins to receive a signal from the ultrasonic sensors, converting them into control functions for actuators. Such devices include engine control, electric power steering, automatic or manual transmission and a system of exchange rate stability.

Depending on the manufacturer, the information can be displayed on the display as auxiliary for the driver and in parallel to drive the car in automatic mode if the driver has given permission to do so.

The principle of finding a parking space

As it is already becoming clear, the search for a suitable parking space is carried out using ultrasound sensors. On the sides, as expected, there are 4 such sensors, two on each side, in front and behind. While the car is moving, between the rows of parked cars, at a speed of up to 20 km / h for transverse parking. Up to 40 km / h for parallel parking, sensors scan the distance between cars and their position relative to your car.

The control unit processes the incoming signals from the sensors, but if the distance is suitable for parking, the system will give the driver an appropriate signal and display the appropriate information. As a rule, the system will take as a basis a distance that is 0.8 or 1 m longer than the length of the entire vehicle.

Automatic car parking

This parking process can be divided into two types:

• with the help of instructions under the control of the driver;
• automatic parking without driver participation.

In the first method, prompts, visual and test instructions are displayed to the driver on the information display. Based on the prompts and the trajectory, the driver decides how best to park. Most often, these are recommendations for the steering wheel, which steering angle is better to choose and the direction of travel. Typically, this is configured for Advanced Park Assist.

The second method is different, in comparison with the previous one, the driver does not participate in the parking process, and all functions are performed automatically. Instead of the driver, the steering wheel will turn independently in the desired direction, as well as pressing the gas pedal. One thing a driver may need is to shift the gearbox for forward or reverse.

For safety reasons, the automatic parking system can be switched to manual parking at any time.

Autonomous or automatic parking system

Progress is underway, and the vehicle's auxiliary systems are also progressing. As mentioned above, the automatic system can work when the driver is sitting and watching the car parking process. An innovation was the autonomous parking system, when the driver can be outside the car, while grabbing the ignition key and turning on the autonomous parking function.

At the moment, several companies are working on the system, each in its own direction, these are Volkswagen and Bosch, BMW and Continental. According to BMW representatives, they want to implement production carsstarting in 2016.

Components of an autonomous parking system

The autonomous car parking system consists of an electronic control unit, input devices and command execution devices. The devices for reading or input include laser sensors (lidars), as well as a remote control. As a rule, in an autonomous parking system, four laser sensors are installed around the entire perimeter of the car. Thanks to their accuracy, the system works much better, and also perfectly scans obstacles.

It is based on an automatic car parking system and collision warning around the entire perimeter of the car. Thanks to such components and technology, time is significantly saved; the system showed itself best of all in multi-storey parking lots. The system can also place the car in a space of 20 cm on each side of the car, which is very space saving.

How an autonomous system works

The activation of the autonomous car parking system begins with pressing a button on the remote control. The remote control is designed as a Smart Watch, and not, as is customary, in the form of a keychain. Volkswagen stepped even further, and decided to use the driver's smartphone as a remote control. The most important difference between such a system from the previous generation or, in a different way, from the base is self-parking without driver participation. Also, the car can independently move to the place of landing of the driver and passengers.

How does such a wonderful system work? Lidars, having removed the data, send them to the electronic control unit. The program, sewn into the block, passes the received information through an algorithm to assess the situation, obstacles, adjust the speed, navigate and find a place minibus.

Thanks to the use of many systems of the car, the control unit itself can decide how much to accelerate or pause the car. One drawback is that a digital map (plan) of the parking building is stitched into the block, while the system does not use GPS maps and signals. Most often this is done for closed parking lots, where the signal simply cannot pass. But there is nothing to flash for open parking lots.

As a result, the electronic control unit generates signals for control systems, which are then transmitted to these vehicle systems: engine control, gearbox, steering wheel and others.

A huge plus of the system is that it does not cost big money, and orientation in the parking lot will not take much time. Also, the driver is not obliged to sit and watch the car until the last, until the car stops. As a result, many manufacturers will install autonomous parking on new production vehicles instead of automatic parking.

Video review of the autonomous parking system: