# US 2009/0260907 A1 · Autonomous parking strategy based on available parking space

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- Number: US 2009/0260907 A1
- Document ID: US20090260907A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/107,130
- Filed: 2008-04-22
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-22
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Nikolai K. Moshchuk; Shih-Ken Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260907A1

## CPC

- B62D 15/0285: {Parking performed automatically}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A method is provided for controlling 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

### Claim 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 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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first steering strategy maneuver comprises a single steering cycle to park the vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 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.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 wherein the center turning radius of the vehicle is determined when steerable wheels of the vehicle are positioned at full steer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein a first steering maneuver is a backward steering maneuver.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein a second steering maneuver is a forward steering maneuver.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 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, a1 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.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the turning radius of the vehicle is determined when steerable wheels of the vehicle are positioned at full steer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

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 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.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein detecting the presence and non-presence of the first and second objects are performed by an ultrasonic device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein detecting the presence and non-presence of the first and second object are performed by a radar system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein detecting the presence and non-presence of the first and second object are performed by an imaging device.

### Claim 14

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.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The autonomous parking system of claim 14 further comprising an electric power steering system for providing steering torque to the steerable wheels of the vehicle.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The autonomous parking system of claim 14 wherein the sensing device includes a radar-based sensing device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

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

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

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