Automatic valet parking

• US 9,701,305 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Paul, Brian D., Lazar, II, Walter M., Wassef, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US14/643,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20160264132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4029 Pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/00 Steering not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0221 involving a learning process

Abstract

A system and method of retrieving a vehicle includes generating a path from a final destination to a starting position, receiving a command to retrieve the vehicle, and autonomously operating the vehicle along the path from the final vehicle destination to the starting vehicle position.

Claims

1. A method of retrieving a vehicle using a wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:

recording, using a device installed in the vehicle, a vehicle path from a first position to a second position;

generating a return path from the second position to the first position;

receiving a retrieve command from the wireless device; and

autonomously operating the vehicle along the return path from the second position to the first position in response to receiving the retrieve command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein recording the vehicle path from the first position to the second position includes collecting vehicle data from at least one of:

cameras, sensors, and a GPS module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle data includes at least one of the following:

a number of turns made by the vehicle, turn angles, distance traveled, and vehicle direction.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of generating a map of the return path.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a keyfob.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receive step further includes receiving a retrieve command sent using a software application on the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, further including monitoring the autonomous operation of the vehicle along the return path for obstacles and pausing the autonomous operation of the vehicle until a detected obstacle has cleared the path.

8. A method of retrieving a vehicle using a wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a vehicle starting position upon receiving a learn command;

recording, using a device installed in the vehicle, a path traveled by the vehicle from the starting position to a final destination;

generating a return path from the final destination to the starting position upon receiving a stop command; and

autonomously operating the vehicle along the return path to the starting position upon receiving a retrieve command from the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 8, further including receiving the learn command from a button located inside the vehicle or by a voice command to a user interface in the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, further including receiving the retrieve command from the wireless device via short-range wireless communication or via a wireless carrier system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein recording the path from the starting position to the final destination includes collecting vehicle data from at least one of:

cameras, sensors, and a GPS module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle data includes at least one of the following:

a number of turns made by the vehicle, turn angles, distance traveled, and vehicle direction.

13. The method of claim 8, further including generating a map of the return path.

14. The method of claim 8, further including monitoring the autonomous operation of the vehicle along the return path for obstacles and pausing the autonomous operation of the vehicle until a detected obstacle has cleared the path.

15. The method of claim 8, further including resetting the starting position automatically if after establishing the starting position the vehicle subsequently passes the starting position, or manually upon receiving a reset command.

16. The method of claim 8, further including generating an alternative route for the return path upon receiving an alternative route request.

17. A system for retrieving a vehicle using a wireless device, the system comprising:

at least one vehicle system module and/or a vehicle telematics unit installed in the vehicle and configured individually or in combination to;

establish a vehicle starting position upon receiving a learn command;

record a path traveled by the vehicle from the starting position to a final destination;

generate a return path from the final destination to the starting position upon receiving a stop command; and

receive a retrieve command from the wireless device, and in response, initiate autonomous operation of the vehicle along the return path to the starting position.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein recording the path from the starting position to the final destination includes collecting vehicle data from at least one of:

cameras, sensors, and a GPS module, and wherein the vehicle data includes at least one of the following;

a number of turns made by the vehicle, turn angles, distance traveled, and vehicle direction.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the retrieve command from the wireless device is received via short-range wireless communication or via a wireless carrier system.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the autonomous operation of the vehicle along the return path is monitored for obstacles and paused until a detected obstacle has cleared the path.