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Auto Express Car Reviews
It’s the Passat that parks itself!
Volkswagen introduce the worlds first self-parking car.
By James Foxall
01st May 2008
Here's some new technology which is designed to get motorists into a tight spot – it’s the world’s first car that parks itself!
Volkswagen’s advanced Park Assist Vision lets drivers select an available space using their sat-nav screen. They then simply stop near it and slot the automatic gear selector into Park. They can choose whether to stay in the car and watch as the system goes to work, or get out and walk away!
All they have to do is point the remote-control keyfob at the vehicle, and it will reverse-park into a space, cut the engine off and activate the door locks automatically.
The self-parking Passat uses twin cameras in the door mirrors to gauge the dimensions of the space. These are routed to a powerful on-board computer that sets a course which avoids any obstacles. By sending commands to the steering, using the electronic parking brake, gearbox and engine idle, the car then drives itself slowly into the gap.
Two additional cameras at the front and rear, as well as ultrasound sensors, monitor the operation and stop the vehicle if an object or person walks in front of or behind the car. The driver can also interrupt the manoeuvre at any time using the remote control. VW’s existing Park Assist system already helps drivers of Tourans, Tiguans and Passats with parallel parking, but the new set-up works in an altogether different way, by allowing perpendicular spaces to be negotiated, too. VW claims these are often too narrow for drivers to squeeze into, and when they do they then can’t get out of the vehicle without damaging its doors against other cars or walls.
The firm says the system, which was showcased at a technology fair in Hanover, Germany, won’t reach production before 2010.
Volkswagen’s advanced Park Assist Vision lets drivers select an available space using their sat-nav screen. They then simply stop near it and slot the automatic gear selector into Park. They can choose whether to stay in the car and watch as the system goes to work, or get out and walk away!
All they have to do is point the remote-control keyfob at the vehicle, and it will reverse-park into a space, cut the engine off and activate the door locks automatically.
The self-parking Passat uses twin cameras in the door mirrors to gauge the dimensions of the space. These are routed to a powerful on-board computer that sets a course which avoids any obstacles. By sending commands to the steering, using the electronic parking brake, gearbox and engine idle, the car then drives itself slowly into the gap.
Two additional cameras at the front and rear, as well as ultrasound sensors, monitor the operation and stop the vehicle if an object or person walks in front of or behind the car. The driver can also interrupt the manoeuvre at any time using the remote control. VW’s existing Park Assist system already helps drivers of Tourans, Tiguans and Passats with parallel parking, but the new set-up works in an altogether different way, by allowing perpendicular spaces to be negotiated, too. VW claims these are often too narrow for drivers to squeeze into, and when they do they then can’t get out of the vehicle without damaging its doors against other cars or walls.
The firm says the system, which was showcased at a technology fair in Hanover, Germany, won’t reach production before 2010.
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