Bosch is using ultrasound sensors to develop a parallel parking system.

Its semi-automatic park assist technology interfaces with the electric power steering unit and carries out all the steering manoeuvres. All the driver has to do in the parking process is to accelerate and brake.

The benefits of this technology include making better use of limited space for parking in cities; taking the stress out of the process for many drivers; a reduction in the damage caused during parking and speeding up the process of parking which helps reduce congestion, says Bosch.

The next step from Bosch will be to provide car companies with an additional function that will assist the driver when pulling out of a parking space.

The function ensures the steering in the right starting position and it will then carry out the steering manoeuvres to pull out of a parking spot. Once again, all the driver has to do is use the accelerator and brake and be aware of other vehicles.

Its long term objective is to make parking completely automatic. The result of the company’s development efforts will be to steer the car into a parking space fully automatically, quickly and safely. The driver’s only role will be to supervise the process.

A failsafe mechanism will be provided whereby the system will stop if the driver touches the steering wheel or the brake.

Since they first went into production in 1993, Bosch has produced more than 100 million ultrasound sensors making the company the world’s leading supplier.

Currently fourteen car companies now offer Bosch’s clever parking technology for some 200 vehicle models.

An interactive animation and video of the system in action is available here:
http://rb-kwin.bosch.com/gb/en/safety_comfort/driving_comfort/driverassistancesystems/parkingaid/index.html