Parking assistance how it works

The Parking Assistant or semi-automatic parking is a system capable of actively assisting the driver in parking maneuvers. It autonomously manages the search for parking, the calculation of the necessary space and the steering maneuvers, but does not control the throttle control, the gearbox and the brakes, which must in any case be operated by the driver.

The system is known by different trade names, depending on the manufacturer or the car manufacturer that makes it available for example Parking Assistant identifies the device developed by Bosch Parking assistance how it works

Semi-automatic parking allows you to park in parallel without touching the steering wheel. After the driver has activated the system, he will be assisted in all maneuvers, starting from approaching the parking lot. In this phase, in fact, if the car is traveling at reduced speed (usually up to 40 km / h) and at a limited distance from the roadway, the system monitors the free space between the cars already parked while the car passes by (use ultrasonic sensors). If sufficient space is identified for parking (at least one meter more than the length of the car), the car is positioned in the most correct position to start the maneuvers.

However, the driver must engage reverse gear to start parking. At this point he will have to carefully adjust the gas, while the parking system will steer the car completely autonomously. If the maneuver is not successful at the first attempt (in relation to the space available), it is possible to return to the maneuver start position and try again.

Parking assistant prevents stress and scratches

Parking is often caused by insurance damage that could be avoided. If you drive into another car while parking, nobody will usually be injured, but the annoyance and effort are usually great.

Parking aids useful for men and women

Women in particular are often said to be unable to properly assess parking spaces. But if you are in a hurry, looking for a parking space in a big city and are stressed by other waiting drivers, you can quickly get a scratch in a parked car or hit the curb with the tire and rim. This happens to men and women alike, so the parking assistant can be extremely helpful for both genders and is becoming increasingly popular.

Parking on the edge of large streets in particular often causes enormous stress for many drivers. Anyone who has already used the parking assistant in such a situation knows how comfortable parking is with this driver assistance system and does not want to miss it anymore.

Active and passive parking assistant

The parking assistant is available in different versions, mainly in older models with a passive parking assistant and in newer models with an active parking aid.

With passive parking aids, you have to steer

Older systems work with cameras that can be placed in different places on the car. For example, the area behind the car is shown to the driver so that he can better assess how much space is left to the vehicle parked behind him. Or the car is shown from a bird’s eye view with the help of several cameras – so the driver has an all-round view. With systems with a camera, the driver has to park completely independently – i.e. accelerate and steer.

Newer systems also take over the steering

Newer systems are called Active Parking Assistants and mostly work with ultrasonic sensors. They are even able to find suitable parking spaces and display them to the driver. If a gap is found, the parking path is calculated by the system. The car is automatically steered into the gap – the driver only has to accelerate and brake and thus maintain control of the car.

Parking assistants take the strain off city drivers

Especially in large cities, where the parking spaces are often very narrow and parking has to be done quickly, the system relieves the driver enormously. A lot of stress and “unnecessary” police operations are thus prevented

Park Assist and herringbone parking

The second generation systems are able to perform arming maneuvers even in herringbone car parks. Furthermore, systems are already available that can manage the parking maneuver completely excluding the driver’s intervention, but at the present time they are not marketed also for any problems of attribution of responsibility in the event of a collision with other cars (the driver would in fact be decommissioned). The diffusion of the semi-automatic parking system is quite wide, since it is also present on medium-segment cars, where it is usually available as an option.