An object recognition device having a distance measurement sensor mounted on an own vehicle and detects the distance to the object an own vehicle location detector that detects an own vehicle position an object detector that detects the object position based on the distance data and the own vehicle position, and an object distinguisher that distinguishes whether the object is a static object or a moving object based on a distance data, a vehicle position, and an object position wherein the static object distinguished by the object distinguisher is recognized as a static object to be detected, it is possible to reduce the annoyance given to a human such as a driver before guiding the vehicle to the target parking position without erroneously recognizing the target parking space.

A parking assistance system for a vehicle includes surround sensors, internal sensors, a data memory, and a processing unit. The surround sensors are configured to provide sensor data of the surrounding of the vehicle. The internal sensors are configured to detect a seat occupancy of passenger seats within the passenger room of the vehicle. The data memory stores a vehicle data model of the vehicle including positions of vehicle doors in the chassis of the vehicle. In addition, the processing unit is configured to process the sensor data received from the surround sensors to calculate an occupancy grid map of the vehicle's surrounding and further configured to calculate disembarking distances for the vehicle doors depending on the vehicle data model, the occupancy grid map and the detected seat occupancy.

A system for enhancing driver situation awareness and environment perception around a transportation vehicle. The system incorporates a plurality of object detecting sensors. The sensors are arranged for monitoring at least one critical zone around the vehicle. A plurality of addressable light-emitting diodes are operatively associated with the object detecting sensors. The addressable light-emitting diodes are located on the vehicle for visual display to the driver. When a given sensor detects an object in the critical zone, a detection signal is transmitted to a LED controller. Upon receiving the detection signal, the LED controller transmits a control signal to selectively activate only those addressable light-emitting diodes which are associated with the given sensor, such that the activated light-emitting diodes visually communicate to the driver a location of the detected object in the critical zone.

A trailer angle detection system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle and viewing rearward of the vehicle. A plurality of ultrasonic sensors is disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle and sense rearward of the vehicle. A control has at least one processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. Responsive to processing of image data captured by the camera, the control detects a trailer rearward of the vehicle and in the field of view of the camera. The at least one processor is operable to process sensor data captured by the ultrasonic sensors to determine a distance to portions of the trailer rearward of the vehicle. Responsive to processing of captured image data and processing of captured sensor data, the trailer angle detection system is operable to determine an angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle.

A system and method for navigating a vehicle automatically from a current location to a destination location without a human operator is disclosed. The method includes identifying a vehicle location using global positioning system (GPS) data regarding the vehicle. Also included is identifying that the vehicle location is near or at a parking location. Then, using mapping data defined for the parking location. The mapping data at least in part is used to find a path at the parking location to avoid a collision of the vehicle with at least one physical structure when the vehicle is automatically moved at the parking location. The method includes instructing the electronics of the vehicle to proceed with controlling the vehicle to automatically move from the current location to the destination location at the parking location. The electronics use as input at least part of the mapping data and sensor data collected from around the vehicle by at least two vehicle sensors. The path is configured to be updatable dynamically based on changes in the destination location or changes along the path. The destination location is a parking spot for the vehicle at the parking location.

A method of positioning a vehicle during a parking operation includes positioning a vehicle in a parked position during a first parking operation, and detecting a distance of the vehicle from an object when the vehicle is in the parked position. The distance is stored in a vehicle memory. The distance from the object is recalled during a second parking operation with the vehicle. An indication is provided during the second parking operation when the vehicle is spaced from the object by the distance.

An automated parking system and a method enables a vehicle to autonomously travel to and parks in a vacant parking slot based on communication with a parking infrastructure. In addition, the automated parking system and method for a driverless vehicle is capable of autonomously traveling from a parking slot to a pickup area via communication with the parking infrastructure.

A method (and corresponding parking facility management server, parking system, and computer program) for carrying out an automatic parking process of a vehicle includes a reservation request for a parking position of a parking facility being sent to a parking facility management server via a communication network, navigation data for an autonomous navigation to the reserved parking position corresponding to the reservation request being received by the vehicle via the communication network, and the vehicle autonomously navigating in the parking facility to the reserved parking position based on the navigation data. It is preferably provided that the vehicle autonomously pulls into the parking position, pulls out of this parking position, and travels back to a drop-off position or pick-up position, from which a driver of the vehicle may pick up the vehicle.

The invention relates to a door assistance system (1) for a vehicle (F) for preventing damage to vehicle doors (T1-T4) and/or vehicle opening panels (T5) caused by external objects when vehicle doors (T1-T4) and/or vehicle opening panels (T5) are opened. Said system comprises: a calculation unit (7), which evaluates an environmental data model, detected by sensors, of the surroundings of the vehicle (F), in order to determine a space around the vehicle (F) that is free of external objects (H1, H2, O), and which calculates maximum possible open positions of the various vehicle doors (T1-T4) and/or vehicle opening panels (T5) of the vehicle (F) within the free space that has been determined; and a locking unit (8), which locks a vehicle door (T1-T4) and/or vehicle opening panel (T5) of the vehicle (F) when same is opened to the correspondingly calculated maximum permissible open position of the respective vehicle door (T1-T4) and/or vehicle opening panel (T5) in order to prevent contact with an external object and/or to provide entry or exit assistance.

A method for operating a vehicle, the vehicle being guided in a parking facility by remote control in such a way that a predetermined minimum distance to mobile objects in the surroundings of the vehicle is maintained. A device for operating a vehicle, a parking facility system for vehicles, and a computer program are also described.