Method and device for operating a parking lot

Abstract

A method for operating a parking lot, which has a first parking area section for parking a motor vehicle, which is adjustable in its height with the aid of a hoisting system and which is able to be shifted by the hoisting system from a first position, in which a motor vehicle is able to enter the first parking area section, to a second position, and when the first parking area section is in the second position, a second parking area section for parking a motor vehicle becomes available underneath the first parking area section. The method includes executing an automatic parking operation for a motor vehicle to be parked in the parking lot; and controlling an operation of the hoisting system as a function of execution of the automatic parking operation. In addition, a device for operating a parking lot, a parking lot, and a computer program are described.

Claims

1. A method for operating a parking lot, wherein the parking lot includes a first parking area section and a second parking area section, and a height of the first parking area section is adjustable by a hoisting system shifting the first parking area section between a first position, in which a motor vehicle is able to enter the first parking area section, and a second position, at which the motor vehicle is able to enter the second parking area section underneath the first parking area section, the method comprising: wirelessly transmitting instructions to an internal drive system of the motor vehicle according to which the internal drive system of the motor vehicle performs an automatic driving operation by which the motor vehicle is driven into the first parking area section or the second parking area section of the parking lot; and controlling an operation of the hoisting system: (a) to allow the motor vehicle to be driven into the first parking area section or the second parking area section by the automatic parking operation; and/or (b) after the motor vehicle has entered the first parking area section by the automatic parking operation, to shift the first parking area section into the second position, thereby parking the motor vehicle in the first parking area section while the first parking area section is in the second position.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the automatic driving operation includes an automatic driverless guidance of the motor vehicle by which the motor vehicle enters and is parked in one of the two parking area sections, and the controlling of the hoisting system causes the hoisting system to shift the first parking area section into the first or second position, thereby allowing the motor vehicle to be automatically driven into the one of the two parking area sections without a driver.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein: the automatic driving operation includes an automatic guidance of the motor vehicle by which the motor vehicle enters and is parked in the first parking area section without a driver due to the second parking area section initially being occupied by a further motor vehicle, the method further comprises controlling the further motor vehicle to be driven out of the second parking area section without a driver, thereby making the second parking area section available; the controlling the operation of the hoisting system includes the hoisting system being controlled to shift the first parking area section to the first position after the driving out of the further motor vehicle from the second parking area section; the wirelessly transmitting the instructions is performed to cause the automatic driving operation by which the motor vehicle is automatically driven to and parked in the first parking area section without a driver after the shift of the first parking area section to the first position; the controlling the operation of the hoisting system further includes the hoisting system being controlled, after the automatic parking of the motor vehicle in the first parking area section, to shift the first parking area section to the second position; and the method further comprises controlling the further motor vehicle, after the shift of the first parking area section to the second position, to be automatically driven to and parked in the second parking area section without a driver.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: after the motor vehicle has been parked and still remains parked in the first parking area section, which is in the second position, and when a further motor vehicle is parked in the second parking area section, automatically unparking the motor vehicle from the first parking area section and into a target position without a driver by: controlling the further motor vehicle to be driven out of the second parking area section without a driver, thereby making the second parking area section available; subsequent to the further motor vehicle being driven out of the second parking area section, controlling the hoisting system to shift the first parking area section to the first position; subsequent to the shift of the first parking area section to the first position, controlling the motor vehicle to be automatically driven out of the first parking area section and to the target position without a driver; after the motor vehicle has been automatically driven out of the first parking area section, controlling the hoisting system is to shift the first parking area section back to the second position; and after the shift of the first parking area section back to the second position, controlling the further motor vehicle to be automatically driven to the second parking area section and parked there without a driver.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the controlling of the further motor vehicle to be driven out of the second parking area section is to cause the further motor vehicle to be automatically parked in a third parking area section on a temporary basis in order not to block a traffic lane extending in front of the second parking area section.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the method steps is documented.

7. A method comprising: executing an automatic parking operation for a motor vehicle to be parked in a parking lot; and controlling an operation of a hoisting system as a function of the execution of the automatic parking operation, wherein: the parking lot includes a first parking area section, a second parking area section, and a third parking area section; a height of the first parking area section is adjustable by the hoisting system shifting the first parking area section between a first position of the first parking area section, in which the motor vehicle is able to enter the first parking area section, and a second position of the first parking area section, at which the motor vehicle is able to enter the second parking area section underneath the first parking area section; and a height of the second parking area section is adjustable by the hoisting system shifting the second parking are section between a first position of the second area section, in which the motor vehicle is able to enter the second parking area section, and a second position of the second parking area section, at least one at which the motor vehicle is able to enter the third parking area section underneath the second parking area section.

8. A device for operating a parking lot, wherein the parking lot includes a first parking area section and a second parking area section, and a height of the first parking area section is adjustable by a hoisting system shifting the first parking area section between a first position, in which a motor vehicle is able to enter the first parking area section, and a second position, at which the motor vehicle is able to enter the second parking area section underneath the first parking area section, the device comprising: a control unit; and a wireless transmitter; wherein the control unit is configured to: wirelessly transmit, via the wireless transmitter, instructions to an internal drive system of the motor vehicle according to which the internal drive system of the motor vehicle performs an automatic driving operation by which the motor vehicle is driven into the first parking area section or the second parking area section of the parking lot; and control an operation of the hoisting system: (a) to allow the motor vehicle to be driven into the first parking area section or the second parking area section by the automatic parking operation; and/or (b) after the motor vehicle has entered the first parking area section by the automatic parking operation, to shift the first parking area section into the second position, thereby parking the motor vehicle in the first parking area section while the first parking area section is in the second position.

9. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein the automatic driving operation includes an automatic driverless guidance of the motor vehicle by which the motor vehicle enters an is parked in one of the two parking area sections, and the control of the hoisting system causes the hoisting system to shift the first first parking area section into the first or second position, thereby allowing the motor vehicle to be automatically driven into the one of the two parking area sections without a driver.

10. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein: the automatic driving operation includes an automatic guidance of the motor vehicle by which the motor vehicle enters and is parked in the first parking area section without a driver due to the second parking area section initially being occupied by a further motor vehicle, the control device is further configured to control the further motor vehicle to be driven out of the second parking area section without a driver, thereby making the second parking area section available; the control of the operation of the hoisting system includes the hoisting system being controlled to shift the first parking area section to the first position after the driving out of the further motor vehicle from the second parking area section; the wireless transmission of the instructions is performed to cause the automatic driving operation by which the motor vehicle is automatically park driven to and parked in the first parking area section without a driver after the shift of the first parking area section to the first position; and the control of the operation of the hoisting system further includes the hoisting system being controlled, after the automatic parking of the motor vehicle in the first parking area section, to shift the first parking area section to the second position; and the control device is further configured to control the further motor vehicle, after the shift of the first parking area section to the second position, to be automatically driven to and parked in the second parking area section without a driver.

11. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein, after the motor vehicle has been parked and still remains parked in the first parking area section, which is in the second position, and when a further motor vehicle is parked in the second parking area section, the control device is further configured to automatically unpark the motor vehicle from the first parking area section and into a target position without a driver by: controlling the further motor vehicle to be driven out of the second parking area section without a driver, thereby making the second parking area section available; subsequent to the further motor vehicle being driven out of the second parking area section, controlling the hoisting system to shift the first parking area section to the first position; subsequent to the shift of the first parking area section to the first position, controlling the motor vehicle to be automatically driven out of the first parking area section and to the target position without a driver; after the motor vehicle has been automatically driven out of the first parking area section, controlling the hoisting system to shift the first parking area section back to the second position; and after the shift of the first parking area section back to the second position, controlling the further motor vehicle to be automatically driven to the second parking area section and parked there without a driver.

12. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the controlling of the further motor vehicle to be driven out of the second parking area section is to cause the further motor vehicle to be automatically parked in a third parking area section on a temporary basis in order not to block a traffic lane extending in front of the second parking area section.

13. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein a documenting device is provided for documenting at least one of the functions of the device.

14. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein a height of the second parking area section is adjustable by the hoisting system from a first position, in which the motor vehicle is able to enter the second parking area section, to a second position, thereby making a third parking area section available for parking of the motor vehicle in the third parking area section underneath the second parking area section.

15. A device for operating a parking lot, the device comprising a control device, wherein: the parking lot includes a first parking area section and a second parking area section; a height of the first parking area section is adjustable by a hoisting system shifting the first parking area section between a first position, in which a motor vehicle is able to enter the first parking area section, and a second position, at which the motor vehicle is able to enter the second parking area section underneath the first parking area section; the control device is configured to: ascertain, on the basis of environmental data corresponding to an environment of the hoisting system sensed with the aid of an environment sensor system, that a road user is not located within a predetermined minimum distance from hoisting system in the sensed environment; execute an automatic parking operation for the motor vehicle to be parked in the parking lot; and operate the hoisting system as a function of the execution of the automatic parking operation; and the operation of the hoisting system is performed conditional upon the ascertainment.

16. A parking lot comprising: a hoisting system; a first parking area section; a second parking area section; a control unit; and a wireless transmitter; wherein: a height of the first parking area section is adjustable by the hoisting system shifting the first parking area section between a first position, in which a motor vehicle is able to enter the first parking area section, and a second position, at which the motor vehicle is able to enter the second parking area section underneath the first parking area section; and the control unit is configured to: wirelessly transmit, via the wireless transmitter, instructions to an internal drive system of the motor vehicle according to which the internal drive system of the motor vehicle performs an automatic driving operation by which the motor vehicle is driven into the first parking area section or the second parking area section of the parking lot; and control an operation of the hoisting system: (a) to allow the motor vehicle to be driven into the first parking area section or the second parking area section by the automatic parking operation; and/or (b) after the motor vehicle has entered the first parking area section by the automatic parking operation, to shift the first parking area section into the second position, thereby parking the motor vehicle in the first parking area section while the first parking area section is in the second position.

17. A method for operating a parking lot, wherein the parking lot includes a first parking area section and a second parking area section, and a height of the first parking area section is adjustable by a hoisting system shifting the first parking area section between a first position, in which a motor vehicle is able to enter the first parking area section, to and a second position, at which the motor vehicle is able to enter the second parking area section underneath the first parking area section, the method comprising: sensing an environment of the hoisting system with the aid of an environment sensor system of the parking lot to ascertain environmental data corresponding to the sensed environment; ascertaining, on the basis of the environmental data, that a road user is not located within a predefined minimum distance from the hoisting system in the sensed environment; executing an automatic parking operation for the motor vehicle to be parked in the parking lot; and controlling an operation of the hoisting system as a function of the execution of the automatic parking operation, wherein the controlling is performed conditional upon the ascertainment.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which is stored a computer program including program code that is executable by a processor and that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform a method for operating a parking lot, wherein the parking lot includes a first parking area section and a second parking area section, and a height of the first parking area section is adjustable by a hoisting system shifting the first parking area section between a first position, in which a motor vehicle is able to enter the first parking area section, and a second position, at which the motor vehicle is able to enter the second parking area section underneath the first parking area section, the method comprising: wirelessly transmitting instructions to an internal drive system of the motor vehicle according to which the internal drive system of the motor vehicle performs an automatic driving operation by which the motor vehicle is driven into the first parking area section or the second parking area section of the parking lot; and controlling an operation of the hoisting system: (a) to allow the motor vehicle to be driven into the first parking area section or the second parking area section by the automatic parking operation; and/or (b) after the motor vehicle has entered the first parking area section by the automatic parking operation, to shift the first parking area section into the second position, thereby parking the motor vehicle in the first parking area section while the first parking area section is in the second position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of a method for operating a parking lot.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a device for operating a parking lot.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a parking lot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

(4) FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of a method for operating a parking lot. The parking lot has a first parking area section for parking a motor vehicle, which is adjustable in its height by a hoisting system and is able to be shifted from a first position, in which a motor vehicle is able to enter the first parking area section, to a second position with the aid of the hoisting system. When the first parking area section is in the second position, a second parking area section for parking a motor vehicle is opened up underneath the first parking area section.

(5) The present method includes the following steps: Executing 101 an automatic parking operation for a motor vehicle to be parked in the parking lot, and Controlling 103 an operation of the hoisting system as a function of the execution of the automatic parking operation.

(6) For example, the execution of the automatic parking operation includes an automatic guidance of the motor vehicle to be parked without a driver, from a drop-off position, where a driver of the motor vehicle has parked his or her vehicle for the execution of the automatic parking operation, to the first or the second parking area section. The automatic parking operation, for example, includes that the motor vehicle to be parked is parked in the first or the second parking area section. In particular, the automatic parking operation includes the automatic guidance of the motor vehicle parked in the respective first or second parking area section from the corresponding parking area section to a target position without a driver. A target position, for example, is a pick-up position, where a person is able to take possession of the motor vehicle. In other words, the motor vehicle is parked at the target position in an automatic manner without a driver.

(7) For instance, the target position is identical with the drop-off position, or it may differ from the drop-off position.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a device 201 for operating a parking lot. The parking lot has a first parking area section for parking a motor vehicle, which is adjustable in its height with the aid of a hoisting system. Using the hoisting system, the first parking area section is able to be shifted from a first position, in which a motor vehicle is able to enter the first parking area section, to a second position. When the first parking area section is in the second position, a second parking area section for parking a motor vehicle is exposed underneath the first parking area section.

(9) Device 201 includes: an execution device 203 for executing an automatic parking operation for a motor vehicle to be parked in the parking lot, and a control unit 205 for controlling an operation of the hoisting system as a function of the execution of the automatic parking operation.

(10) According to one specific embodiment, device 201 includes a communications interface, which is designed to transmit driving data and/or remote-control commands via a communications network to the motor vehicle in order to guide the motor vehicle without the presence of a driver.

(11) According to one specific embodiment, device 201 includes a communications interface, which is designed to transmit control commands for controlling the operation of the hoisting system via a communications network to the hoisting system.

(12) According to one specific embodiment, the first and/or the second parking area section include(s) a parking-occupancy sensor in each case. The parking-occupancy sensor in particular is designed to detect an occupancy status of the respective parking area section.

(13) Based on the detected occupancy status, one specific embodiment provides for the execution of the automatic parking operation.

(14) According to one specific embodiment, the parking-occupancy sensor is one of the following environmental sensors: a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, a laser sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a solenoid sensor, a video sensor or an infrared sensor.

(15) In one specific embodiment, device 201 encompasses the hoisting system.

(16) FIG. 3 shows a parking lot 301 for motor vehicles.

(17) Parking lot 301 includes device 201 from FIG. 2.

(18) In addition, parking lot 301 includes four height-adjustable first parking area sections 303, 305, 307, 309. The four height-adjustable first parking area sections 303, 305, 307, 309 are adjustable in their height with the aid of a respective hoisting system 319, i.e. from a first position to a second position or from a second position to a first position.

(19) According to the illustration depicted in FIG. 3, four first parking area sections 303, 305, 307, 309 are shifted to the second position.

(20) Developed underneath the four first parking area sections 303, 305, 307, 309 is a respective second parking area section 311, 313, 315, 317, which has now been opened up because the associated first parking area sections 303, 305, 307, 309 are in the second position.

(21) The first position of the four first parking area sections 303, 305, 307, 309 describes a position in which a motor vehicle is able to enter parking area sections 303, 305, 307, 309. As a rule, this is a position at ground level.

(22) Motor vehicles 323, 325, 327, 329 are parked in the four first parking area sections 303, 305, 307, 309.

(23) Motor vehicles 321, 331, 333 are parked in second parking area sections 311, 315, 317.

(24) In other words, second parking area section 313 is not occupied.

(25) Within the framework of an automatic parking operation, for instance, a person would like to take possession of motor vehicle 323, which is parked in first parking area section 303. For example, this person requests his motor vehicle 323 from a parking lot management system of parking lot 301 via a communications system. The parking lot management system then coordinates and/or controls a respective return of motor vehicle 323 with the aid of device 201, so that the user is able to resume control of his motor vehicle 323. For example, motor vehicle 323 is guided from first parking area section 303 to a pickup position without a driver, where the person is able to take possession of motor vehicle 323 again.

(26) For this purpose, motor vehicle 321, which is parked in second parking area section 311 located underneath first parking area section 303, is first unparked and, for example, is automatically guided to second parking area section 313 without a driver and parked there. This unparking operation thus opens up second parking area section 311 so that hoisting system 319 is able to shift first parking area section 303 to the first position, which then advantageously allows motor vehicle 323 to leave first parking area section 303.

(27) Once motor vehicle 323 has been unparked and is en route to its pickup position, it is provided, for instance, that motor vehicle 321, which had been parked in second parking area section 313 in the interim, is guided back to second parking area section 311, or that motor vehicle 321 remains parked in second parking area section 313.

(28) If second parking area section 313 is also occupied, one specific embodiment provides that motor vehicle 321 parks in a traffic lane in front of the parking area sections and waits there until the unparking operation of motor vehicle 323 has come to an end; once the unparking operation has been completed, motor vehicle 321 may then drive back to parking area section 311 or it may drive to parking area section 303.

(29) According to one specific embodiment, a check takes place as to whether a first and/or a second parking area section is/are available or occupied.

(30) According to one specific embodiment, an actuation of the hoisting system is provided in order to shift the first height-adjustable parking area section in the appropriate manner.

(31) In one further specific embodiment, a check of the hoisting system is provided with the goal of determining the current position of the hoisting system, i.e., whether the first parking area section is in the first or in the second position.

(32) According to one specific embodiment, an actuation of maneuvering operations for the parking or unparking of one of multiple motor vehicles is provided, in particular within the framework of the automatic parking operation.

(33) According to one specific embodiment, all steps are monitored or checked and, for example, are recorded for safety-related reasons.

(34) The aforementioned steps are carried out with the aid of the parking lot management system, for instance.

(35) According to one specific embodiment, a method step or multiple method steps or all method steps and, in particular, a movement of the hoisting system, in particular driving operations of the motor vehicles, is/are carried out only if no road user, in particular no persons, is/are present in the immediate environment of the hoisting system. In other words, it is checked whether a predefined minimum distance is maintained between the road user and the hoisting system. This is able to be done especially with the aid of infrastructure monitors, e.g., with the aid of an environment sensor system, and may be controlled by the parking lot management system, in particular.

(36) According to one specific embodiment, the entire operation is additionally documented for safety-related reasons and especially for liability purposes.

(37) Among other things, the present invention therefore provides an efficient technical solution that advantageously combines the two system approaches of automated valet parking and multi-parking in order to eliminate possible shortcomings of the respective system approaches, or to at least compensate for such shortcomings. Automated valet parking stands for an automated parking operation and may be abbreviated to AVP. Multi-parking represents the presence of a hoisting system and a first and a second parking area section, as previously described, so that two motor vehicles are able to park on top of one another in a predefined parking area.

(38) For this purpose, a remote control of the hoisting system is carried out, in particular, and/or the hoisting system is designed for such a remote control. For example, the hoisting system includes a communications interface that is able to receive remote-control commands via a communications network.

(39) According to one specific embodiment, the communications network includes the Internet.

(40) In particular an automatic detection is provided in order to ascertain whether a parking area section, e.g., the first or the second parking area section, is occupied or unoccupied, which is accomplished with the aid of parking-occupancy sensors, for instance. 1

(41) In one specific embodiment, an automatic detection as to whether the first parking area section is in the first or the second position is provided, in particular, i.e. whether the hoisting system is located at the bottom (first position) or at the top (second position), or is in motion.

(42) According to one specific embodiment, maneuvering functions are carried out, which are able to be triggered by a parking-lot infrastructure, for example.

(43) According to one specific embodiment, heights or widths of the first or the second parking area sections are taken into account. This may be accomplished on the basis of a digitized parking lot map, for instance.