Process and device for moving a motor vehicle into a target position

• US 6,564,123 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Hahn, Stefan, Regensburger, Uwe, Schmid, Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/117,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/2, 701/23, 701/28, 701/41, 701/67, 701/68, 701/70, 701/77, 701/78, 701/101, 701/301, 701/97, 701/213, 701/98, 701/300, 340/431, 340/435, 340/932
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically

Abstract

A process for moving a motor vehicle into a target position includes placing the motor vehicle in a starting position near the target position; following a first driver-side activation, scanning the environment of the motor vehicle continuously at least for detection of the target position, and determining continuously the current motor vehicle position; determining control data for moving the motor vehicle into the target position with the aid of the determined environment and position information; and after a second driver-side activation, delivering control data-dependent control commands to at least one of a drive train, a brake system and a steering system of the motor vehicle, thus driving the motor vehicle driver-independently into the target position.

Claims

1. A process for moving a motor vehicle into a target position, comprising:

placing the motor vehicle in a starting position near the target position;

following a first driver-side activation, scanning the environment of the motor vehicle continuously at least for detection of the target position, and determining continuously the current motor vehicle position;

determining control data for moving the motor vehicle into the target position with the aid of the determined environment and position information; and

after a second driver-side activation, delivering control data-dependent control commands to at least one of a drive train, a brake system and a steering system of the motor vehicle, thus driving the motor vehicle driver-independently into the target position.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing the target position using at least one of the determined environment and position data, and delivering the data to a driver.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

when an obstacle to the driving operation is detected while scanning the environment of the motor vehicle and while determining the current motor vehicle position, delivering at least one of warning information and information about the obstacle to a driver;

blocking the second driver-side activation;

and terminating or interrupting the driving operation.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a communications connection between the driver outside the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle, said connection sending at least a driver-side activation command to the motor vehicle and sending vehicle-side data to a driver.

5. The process of claim 1,

wherein the target position is one of a parking space and a garage parking space, which can be determined by the environment and position data.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the starting position is one of a parking space and a garage parking space, and the target position is a position outside the starting position.

7. A device for carrying out the process of claim 1, comprising:

an environment sensing device, disposed on the motor vehicle, the environment sensing device detecting continuously the environment of the motor vehicle and the target position;

a position sensing device, disposed on the motor vehicle, the position sensing device detecting continuously the position of the motor vehicle;

a first actuator, acting on the environment sensing device and the position sensing device, for driver-side activation of the environment sensing device and the position sensing device;

a computer connected to the environment sensing device and the position sensing device, the computer generating the control data as a function of the vehicle environment and the vehicle position for the purpose of moving the motor vehicle into the target position;

a controller connected to the at least one of the drive train, the brake system and the steering system of the motor vehicle, the controller influencing as a function of the control data the at least one of the drive train, the brake system and the steering system of the motor vehicle in such a manner that the motor vehicle is driven into the target position independently of the driver; and

a second actuator in contact with the controller for driver-side activation of the controller.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein at least the first actuator is disposed on the motor vehicle.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a transmitter and a receiver connected to the controller, wherein at least the second actuator is disposed on the ransmitter, which communicates with the receiver.

10. The device of claim 7,

wherein at least one of the environment sensing device and the position sensing device includes at least one of a camera arrangement, a laser scanner arrangement, an ultrasonic sensor arrangement, and a radar sensor arrangement.

11. The device of claim 7,

wherein the position sensing device includes a satellite-aided GPS position recognition for recognizing the starting and target positions and the current position.

12. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

an emergency terminating mechanism disposed on at least one of the motor vehicle and the transmitter, wherein the emergency terminating mechanism is used for driver-side termination or interruption of the driving operation into the target position.

13. A device for moving a motor vehicle into a target position, comprising:

an environment sensing device that detects continuously the environment of the motor vehicle and the target position;

a position sensing device that detects continuously the position of the motor vehicle;

a first actuator connected to on the environment sensing device and the position sensing device, the first actuator being configured for driver-side activation of the environment sensing device and the position sensing device;

a computer connected to the environment sensing device and the position sensing device, the computer generating the control data as a function of the vehicle environment and the vehicle position for the purpose of moving the motor vehicle into the target position;

a controller connected to the at least one of the drive train, the brake system and the steering system of the motor vehicle, the controller influencing as a function of the control data the at least one of the drive train, the brake system and the steering system of the motor vehicle to drive the motor vehicle into the target position independently of the driver; and

a second actuator in contact with the controller for driver-side activation of the controller.

14. The device of claim 13,

wherein at least the first actuator is disposed on the motor vehicle.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

a transmitter and a receiver connected to the controller, wherein at least the second actuator is disposed on the ransmitter, which communicates with the receiver.

16. The device of claim 13,

wherein at least one of the environment sensing device and the position sensing device includes at least one of a camera arrangement, a laser scanner arrangement, an ultrasonic sensor arrangement, and a radar sensor arrangement.

17. The device of claim 13,

wherein the position sensing device includes a satellite-aided GPS position recognition for recognizing the starting and target positions and the current position.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

an emergency terminating mechanism disposed on at least one of the motor vehicle and the transmitter, wherein the emergency terminating mechanism is used for driver-side termination or interruption of the driving operation into the target position.