Cooperative park assist

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10532737-B2
Application number	US-201715597260-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2017
Priority date	May 17, 2017
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

The vehicle system includes a position sensor programmed to output a distance signal representing a distance of a primary parked vehicle to a boundary. The vehicle system further includes a processor programmed to receive a parking request and determine a moving distance that is based at least in part on the distance to the boundary and an amount of space the primary parked vehicle requires to exit a parking space.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle system comprising:
a position sensor programmed to output a distance signal representing a distance of a first parked vehicle to a boundary; and
a processor of the first vehicle that is parked, the processor programmed to:
receive a parking request from a second vehicle that is parking to determine a moving distance based at least in part on the distance to the boundary and an amount of space for the first vehicle to exit a parking space;
transmit the moving distance from the first vehicle to the parking vehicle;
receive an occupant detected signal output by an occupant detection system in the first vehicle indicating an occupant in the first vehicle; and
ignore the parking request from the second vehicle that is parking after receiving the occupant detected signal output by the occupant detection system in the first vehicle.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to compare the moving distance to a predetermined threshold.

3. The vehicle system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is programmed to determine that the moving distance is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold and ignore the parking request after determining that the moving distance is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.

4. The vehicle system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is programmed to determine that the moving distance is less than the predetermined threshold and command a vehicle controller of the primary parked vehicle to move the moving distance after determining that the moving distance is less than the predetermined threshold.

5. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to command a communication interface to query at least one secondary parked vehicle for a supplemental distance of the at least one secondary parked vehicle.

6. The vehicle system of claim 5 , wherein the processor is programmed to calculate an aggregate distance based on the moving distance and the supplemental distance.

7. The vehicle system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is programmed to compare the aggregate distance to a predetermined threshold, determine that the aggregate distance is less than the predetermined threshold, and command the at least one secondary parked vehicle to move the supplemental distance after determining that the aggregate distance is less than the predetermined threshold.

8. The vehicle system of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined threshold is a total distance that the vehicle can move during a key-off cycle.

9. A method comprising:
receiving a parking request from a second vehicle that is parking;
receiving a distance signal representing a distance to a boundary of a first vehicle that is parked;
determining a moving distance based at least in part on the distance to the boundary and an amount of space for the first vehicle to exit a parking space;
transmitting the moving distance from the first vehicle to the parking vehicle;
detecting an occupant in the first vehicle based at least in part on a signal output by an occupant detection system; and
ignoring the parking request from the second vehicle that is parking after detecting the occupant in the first vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising querying at least one secondary parked vehicle for a supplemental distance of the at least one secondary parked vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising calculating an aggregate distance based on the moving distance and the supplemental distance.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
comparing the aggregate distance to a predetermined threshold;
determining that the aggregate distance is less than the predetermined threshold; and
commanding the at least one secondary parked vehicle to move the supplemental distance after determining that the aggregate distance is less than the predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined threshold is a total distance that the vehicle can move during a key-off cycle.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
comparing the moving distance to a predetermined threshold;
autonomously operating the primary parked vehicle to move the parking distance as a result of determining that the moving distance is less than the predetermined threshold, and
ignoring the parking result as a result of determining that the moving distance is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Beauvais Brandon
• Badger Ii Charles Everett

Classifications

• B60W2556/65

  Data transmitted between vehicles · CPC title

• G08G1/168

  Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space · CPC title

• B62D15/0285 Primary

  Parking performed automatically · CPC title

• B62D15/025

  Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation (B62D1/28 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60W30/06 Primary

  Automatic manoeuvring for parking · CPC title