Automated valet parking method and device

• US 10,730,556 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2016
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Nicodemus, Rolf, Nordbruch, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweeney, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US15/564,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20180072345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A method for controlling an automated parking operation in which a motor vehicle is controlled autonomously on a route between a drop zone and a parking space includes steps of detecting that a person is on board the motor vehicle during an autonomous driving process, determining that permission does not exist for transporting the person on the trip, and carrying out one or more actions.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an automated parking operation in which a motor vehicle is autonomously controlled on a route between a drop zone and a parking space at a parking facility, the method comprising:

(a) detecting that a person is on board the motor vehicle during an autonomous driving process;

(b) determining that permission does not exist for transporting the person on a trip between the drop zone and the parking space;

(c) carrying out one or more actions based on the determining that the permission does not exist; and

(d) performing the following steps between steps (b) and (c);

creating a communication connection between the person while the person is on board the motor vehicle and a control device of the parking facility located remotely from the motor vehicle;

detecting, by the control device of the parking facility via the communication connection, a request from the person for the granting of permission to execute the trip; and

rejecting the request by the control device of the parking facility.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the request is rejected only if a traffic situation in an area of the parking operation is classified as dangerous.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more actions include a modification of a control destination of the motor vehicle.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more actions include an outputting of a warning notice.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the action includes a modification of a control destination of another motor vehicle in the area of the parking operation.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is controlled to stop if permission does not exist.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the route is modified or blocked by an infrastructure component that controls the driving route, if permission does not exist.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable data carrier storing a computer program including program code for controlling an automated parking operation in which a motor vehicle is autonomously controlled on a route between a drop zone and a parking space at a parking facility, the computer program, when executed by a processing device, causing the processing device to perform:

(a) detecting that a person is on board the motor vehicle during an autonomous driving process;

(b) determining that permission does not exist for transporting the person on a trip between the drop zone and the parking space;

(c) carrying out one or more actions based on the determining that the permission does not exist; and

(d) performing the following steps between steps (b) and (c);

creating a communication connection between the person while the person is on board the motor vehicle and a control device of the parking facility located remotely from the motor vehicle;

detecting, by the control device of the parking facility via the communication connection, a request from the person for the granting of permission to execute the trip; and

rejecting the request by the control device of the parking facility.

9. A system for controlling an automated parking operation, in which a motor vehicle is autonomously controlled on a route between a drop zone and a parking space at a parking facility, the device comprising:

a control device located at the parking facility and remotely from the motor vehicle;

a monitoring device for checking whether there is a person situated in the interior of the motor vehicle; and

a communication device for creating a communication connection between control device and the person while the person is on board the motor vehicle, wherein;

the control device of the parking facility detects via the communication connection a request from the person for granting permission for transporting the person on a trip between the drop zone and the parking space,

the control device rejects the request and controls one or more actions based on the control device rejecting the request.