Automatic parking allows a vehicle to park itself without manual control, making it a true convenience for drivers.
Automatic parking enables a vehicle to park itself without manual intervention, providing a major convenience for drivers. Despite this technology, why do many drivers hesitate to use it? The main reasons include:
While automatic parking frees the driver’s hands, it has a notable limitation — the accuracy of parking space detection. The system primarily relies on radar sensors to measure distances to obstacles. If obstacles are suspended in the air or are very low to the ground, the radar may fail to detect them, potentially leading to scrapes or collisions.
Automatic parking systems also lack precise speed control. Even if radar sensors detect obstacles correctly and react in advance, the inability to finely regulate vehicle speed in real-world conditions can result in collisions with obstacles due to momentum.
Activating automatic parking can be tricky. The car must be in drive mode (D), and the driver often needs to monitor the central display to assist in recognizing parking spaces for the system to function properly.
Intelligence level:
APA (Automated Parking Assist) is a first-generation automatic parking technology that still requires the driver’s assistance inside the vehicle to complete the parking process.
AVP (Automated Valet Parking) is a fourth-generation technology that allows the driver to remotely control the vehicle from up to 500 meters away. AVP can autonomously search for parking spaces, park itself, and, if needed, exit a parking spot and drive to a location specified by the owner.
Autonomy level:
APA is classified as a Level 2 autonomous driving system, while AVP is Level 4.
Sensor setup:
Compared to APA, AVP uses four fisheye cameras to provide a 360-degree panoramic view. Additionally, AVP can leverage built-in Bluetooth for remote operation.