Device for bringing a motor vehicle to a target position

• US 7,813,844 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Gensler, Frank, Ehmanns, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US11/889,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20080033603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/41, 701/36, 701/45, 701/224, 701300-302, 180/204, 180/271, 180/280, 180/282, 348/113, 348/116, 348/119, 348/143, 348/148
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically

Abstract

In the case of a system for automatically bringing a motor vehicle into a target position, having a sensor system and an analyzing unit for determining the position of the motor vehicle relative to the target position as well as devices for planning a collision-free drive from the current position to the target position, and devices for implementing the planned drive, a first part of the sensor system is arranged at or in the motor vehicle, and a second part of the sensor system is arranged in a stationary manner in a defined position close to the target position.

Claims

1. A system for automatically bringing a motor vehicle into a target position, comprising:

a sensor system;

an analyzing unit for determining the position of the motor vehicle relative to the target position;

a device for planning a collision-free drive from the current position to the target position; and

a device for autonomously implementing the collision-free drive from the current position to the target position in a driverless manner,

wherein a first part of the sensor system is arranged at or in the motor vehicle, and a second part of the sensor system is arranged in a stationary manner in a defined position close to the target position.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first part of the sensor system is arranged in a defined spatial location with respect to the motor vehicle; and

the sensor system and the analyzing unit are suitable for determining the horizontal angle between a reference axis of the first part of the sensor system, particularly the longitudinal vehicle axis, and a connection axis between a reference point of the first part and a reference point of the second part of the sensor system.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein:

the second part of the sensor system is arranged in a defined spatial location with respect to the target position, and

the sensor system and the analyzing unit are suitable for determining the horizontal angle between a garage center reference axis of the second part of the sensor system and a connection axis between a reference point of the first part of the sensor system and a reference point of the second part.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor system and the analyzing unit are suitable for determining the distance between a reference point of the first part of the sensor system and a reference point of the second part of the sensor system.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the second part of the sensor system includes at least one artificial landmark.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein the second part of the sensor system consists of an artificial landmark.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the second part of the sensor system is arranged in a defined spatial location with respect to the target position, and

the sensor system and the analyzing unit are suitable for determining the horizontal angle between a garage center reference axis of the second part of the sensor system and a connection axis between a reference point of the first part of the sensor system and a reference point of the second part.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor system and the analyzing unit are suitable for determining the distance between a reference point of the first part of the sensor system and a reference point of the second part of the sensor system.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the second part of the sensor system includes at least one artificial landmark.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the second part of the sensor system consists of an artificial landmark.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system and the analyzing unit are suitable for determining the distance between a reference point of the first part of the sensor system and a reference point of the second part of the sensor system.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second part of the sensor system includes at least one artificial landmark.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second part of the sensor system includes at least one artificial landmark.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the artificial landmark is constructed as a passive visual artificial landmark suitable for the direction-dependent reflection of incident light.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the passive visual artificial landmark is of such a nature or is spatially arranged to be suitable for the horizontally variable reflection of incident light, the passive visual artificial landmark has a lenticular image, or the passive visual artificial landmark is based on a lamellar construction having lamellae of a variable adjusting angle.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second part of the sensor system consists of an artificial landmark.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the artificial landmark is constructed as a passive visual artificial landmark suitable for the direction-dependent reflection of incident light.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second part of the sensor system comprises a camera which can be utilized by at least one additional functionality of the motor vehicle.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises a light source or the sensor system is suitable for activating at least one vehicle headlight.

20. A method for automatically bringing a motor vehicle into a target position, comprising the acts of:

determining a position of the motor vehicle relative to the target position via a sensor system and an analyzing unit;

planning a collision-free drive from the current position to the target position; and

autonomously controlling the motor vehicle to follow the collision-free drive from the current position to the target position in a driverless manner,

wherein a first part of the sensor system is arranged at or in the motor vehicle, and a second part of the sensor system is arranged in a stationary manner in a defined position close to the target position.