VIDEO: BMW parks itself sans driver
BMW unveiled a new system this week in Munich that enables a car to park itself without driver involvement. The remote parking-assist technology uses off-the-shelf technology already in use on many BMW vehicles, including sensors like those that measure distance and alert the driver when the vehicle approaches an object too closely. This system requires the installation of a reflective tape on the wall directly ahead of the vehicle's parking spot that enables the system to coordinate its position.
The video shows the driver exiting the car after he's positioned it outside his garage and simply pressing a button on a key fob. The BMW then retracts its outside mirrors and begins to inch forward into the tight spot between another car and a wall.
BMW says the technology should be available on production vehicles within three years. It's a pretty neat trick, but we doubt any BMW owner would ever hit the button and just walk in his house. Would you trust the people who gave us the iDrive to park your $50,000 sedan without supervision? Chances are it'd get lost on the way to the garage.
[Source: YouTube via Wired]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matthew 8:14AM (7/11/2006)
I don't know how much I'd call this "parking". The car drives itself nearly straight forward and then stops. What about tougher situations. More importantly, WTFC (Who the f%$# cares?!), I mean, how many people want a car that will drive it 99% of the way and then take care of the last 8 feet of straightaway. Is this really a selling point in some way?!
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Dennis 8:25AM (7/11/2006)
OK, now we've got the car wedged in with 8" on either side. Does the driver need to stand behind the car wearing a reflective lens on his crotch to be the "target" as the car backs itself out?
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LaptopHeaven 8:40AM (7/11/2006)
This is not as neat as the video where a BMW parallel parks by itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8oBB2WjKOA
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jonathan 8:51AM (7/11/2006)
I dont think the bloggers comments about Idrive are very fair... As a valet i once parked a spanking new 740, backwards in a tight parking spot without looking in any mirror... it was great.
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clutch 8:54AM (7/11/2006)
Are you serious? I thought that s*** was going to parallel park on the block or something. Driving str8 down a couple of feet isn't really parking, because you can get a 5 yr old to do that. Now if they can get cars to parallel park, im sold.
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Carl Trimble 8:56AM (7/11/2006)
It seems like it hits something right at the end.
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EGS 10:08AM (7/11/2006)
Toyota came out with a paralell parking system 2 years ago. Sorry BMW, your late.
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Graham 10:17AM (7/11/2006)
FWIW commenters, european garages are generally quite small. It would be tough or impossible to get in or out of one's 7 series. So as weird and silly as it may seem, some would probably find it quite practical.
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Autonews 10:21AM (7/11/2006)
Nice. Thanks for the clip
http://www.auto-power-girl.com/
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Doogs 11:09AM (7/11/2006)
Does it back out on its own, too, or do you have to crawl through the trunk to get into the car?
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Aaron Botsis 11:25AM (7/11/2006)
I feel bad for his wife in the 5 (or a new 3?)!! How's she supposed to get in/out of her car!!
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Zaphod 11:30AM (7/11/2006)
Nice stuff. BMW at least has new things going on instead of 48" tires on a 10" lift with 400 lbs. of crash bumpers and a 80 gallon fuel tank with the fuel economy in the range of 10MPG! Now if they would just give us the 120d I'd be happy as a clam at high tide!
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Eric 11:46AM (7/11/2006)
The Japanese version of the Toyota Prius can parallel park itself, sans driver.
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Joel 3:14PM (7/11/2006)
Am I really the only person that loves this?
#10 It seems the whole point of this is that you could fit your 750 in an area where you couldn't open your doors. So that only makes sense if it does in fact back out on its own.
A BMW once saved my life in a fatal car accident. So I would probably walk off and let it park itself. I more or less trust BMW with everything.
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emehrkay 4:11PM (7/11/2006)
doesnt bmw use microsoft os for the idrive? if so, these things will be hacked in two weeks. lol
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dalieu 5:13PM (7/11/2006)
"Would you trust the people who gave us the iDrive to park your $50,000 sedan without supervision? Chances are it'd get lost on the way to the garage."
lol, agreed. plus, i keep picturing bmw + self park + garage wall = not a happy picture.
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Demetrius 9:40AM (7/15/2006)
Not as useful as a car starting itself, and driving to the owner who doesnt want to walk to his/her parked car bcuz of weather of disabilities! Who is the 1st who will create a system that uses these sensors to home in on the key fob!
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