Autonomous parking strategy based on available parking space

• US 8,056,667 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Moshchuk, Nikolai K., Chen, Shih-Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US12/107,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20090260907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 180/204, 340/932.2, 701/41
• US Class Current: 180/169
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically

Abstract

A method controls a parallel parking of a vehicle. A distance between the first object and the second object is remotely sensed. The distance is compared to a first predetermined distance and a second predetermined distance. An autonomous first steering strategy maneuver is performed for parking the vehicle between the first object and second object if the distance is greater than the first predetermined distance. The first steering strategy maneuver consists of a first predetermined number of steering cycles for parking the vehicle. An autonomous second steering strategy maneuver is performed for parking the vehicle between the first and second object if the distance is between the first predetermined distance and the second predetermined distance. The second steering strategy maneuver consists of a second predetermined number of steering cycles for parking the vehicle where the second is greater than the first predetermined number of steering cycles.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a parallel parking of a vehicle between a first object and a second object in response to an available parking distance therebetween, the method comprising the steps of:

remotely sensing a distance between the first object and the second object;

comparing the distance to a first predetermined distance and a second predetermined distance wherein the first predetermined distance is greater than the second predetermined distance;

if the distance is greater than the first predetermined distance, then performing an autonomous first steering strategy maneuver for parking the vehicle between the first object and second object, the first steering strategy maneuver consisting of a first predetermined number of steering cycles for parking the vehicle; and

if the distance is between the first predetermined distance and the second predetermined distance, then performing an autonomous second steering strategy maneuver for parking the vehicle between the first and second object, the second steering strategy maneuver consisting of a second predetermined number of steering cycles for parking the vehicle wherein the second predetermined number of cycles is greater than the first predetermined number of steering cycles;

wherein the first steering strategy maneuver comprises a single steering cycle to park the vehicle, and wherein the first predetermined distance L₁ used to determine whether to apply the single cycle steering strategy is derived from the following equation;

L₁=[(b₂)²+4(a₁)(R₁)]^1/2+b₁

where b₁ is a longitudinal distance from a rear of the vehicle to a rear axle of the vehicle, b₂ is a longitudinal distance from a front of the vehicle to the rear axle of the vehicle, a₁ is half of a width of the vehicle along the rear axle, and R₁ is a distance from a midpoint of the rear axle to a center of the turning radius of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the center turning radius of the vehicle is determined when steerable wheels of the vehicle are positioned at full steer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second steering strategy maneuver comprises two steering maneuvers.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a first steering maneuver is a backward steering maneuver.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a second steering maneuver is a forward steering maneuver.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of remotely sensing the distance between the first object and second object comprises:

activating a sensing device for detecting the proximity of the first object and second object adjacent to the driven vehicle;

detecting the presence of the first object as the driven vehicle travels along a side of the first object;

detecting the non-presence of the first object as the driven vehicle travels past the first object;

detecting the presence of the second object as the driven vehicle travels along side the second object; and

determining the distance traveled by the driven vehicle between a point when the first object is no longer detected and a point when the second object is first detected.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein detecting the presence and non-presence of the first and second objects are performed by an ultrasonic device.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein detecting the presence and non-presence of the first and second object are performed by a radar system.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein detecting the presence and non-presence of the first and second object are performed by an imaging device.

10. An autonomous parking system for parallel parking a driven vehicle between a first object and a second object, the system comprising:

a controller for autonomously controlling steering of the driven vehicle for parallel parking the driven vehicle, and

a sensing device for detecting objects proximate to the driven vehicle, the sensing device in communication with the controller to provide signals to the controller for identifying a space between the first object and the second object;

wherein a distance is determined between the first object and the second object in response to sensing the detected objects, wherein the controller compares the determined distance to a first predetermined distance and a second predetermined distance, wherein the controller determines that a first steering strategy maneuver may be used to park the vehicle if the determined distance is greater than the first predetermined distance, the first steering strategy maneuver including a first predetermined number of steering cycles, and wherein the controller determines that a second steering strategy maneuver may be used to park the vehicle if the determined distance is between the first predetermined distance and the second predetermined distance, the second steering strategy maneuver including a second number of steering cycles, wherein the first predetermined distance L₁ used to determine whether to apply the first steering strategy is derived from the following equation;

L₁=[(b₂)²+4(a₁)(R₁)]^1/2+b₁

where b₁ is a longitudinal distance from a rear of the vehicle to a rear axle of the vehicle, b₂ is a longitudinal distance from a front of the vehicle to the rear axle of the vehicle, a₁ is half of a width of the vehicle along the rear axle, and R₁ is a distance from a midpoint of the rear axle to a center of the turning radius of the vehicle.

11. The autonomous parking system of claim 10 further comprising an electric power steering system for providing steering torque to the steerable wheels of the vehicle.

12. The autonomous parking system of claim 10 wherein the sensing device includes a radar-based sensing device.

13. The autonomous parking system of claim 10 wherein the sensing device includes an ultrasonic based sensing device.

14. The autonomous parking system of claim 10 wherein the sensing device includes an image based sensing device.

15. A method of controlling a parallel parking of a vehicle between a first object and a second object in response to an available parking distance therebetween, the method comprising the steps of:

remotely sensing a distance between the first object and the second object;

comparing the distance to a first predetermined distance and a second predetermined distance wherein the first predetermined distance is greater than the second predetermined distance;

if the distance is greater than the first predetermined distance, then performing an autonomous first steering strategy maneuver for parking the vehicle between the first object and second object, the first steering strategy maneuver consisting of a first predetermined number of steering cycles for parking the vehicle; and

if the distance is between the first predetermined distance and the second predetermined distance, then performing an autonomous second steering strategy maneuver for parking the vehicle between the first and second object, the second steering strategy maneuver consisting of a second predetermined number of steering cycles for parking the vehicle wherein the second predetermined number of cycles is greater than the first predetermined number of steering cycles;

wherein the second steering strategy maneuver comprises two steering maneuvers, and wherein the second predetermined distance L₂ used to determine whether to apply the second steering strategy maneuver is derived from the following equation;

L₂=(R₂+a₁)sin ψ

+b₁ cos ψ

+b₂

where b₁ is a longitudinal distance from a rear of the vehicle to a rear axle of the vehicle, b₂ is a distance from a front of the vehicle to the rear axle of the vehicle, a_l is half of a width of the vehicle along the rear axle, and R₂ is a distance from a midpoint of the rear axle and a center of the turning radius of the vehicle during the first steering maneuver, and ψ

is a minimum turn angle after the first steering maneuver.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the turning radius of the vehicle is determined when steerable wheels of the vehicle are positioned at full steer.