Filed under: Tech, Volkswagen, First Drive
Parking assist one-upsmanship: New VW system doesn't need driver in car
The honchos at VW decided that Park Assist (PA) wasn't enough. That's where the car parallel parks itself while you twiddle your thumbs behind the wheel, and when the Fasten Seat Belt sign is extinguished you can get out and go on about your business. The latest development from VW is called Park Assist Vision (PAV), and it will park the car for you in any kind of spot -- parallel or perpendicular -- and you don't even need to be in the car.
A PAV-equipped car is ringed with cameras and ultrasonic sensors, and when you find a spot you want, you select it on a touchscreen. You place the car in "P" and get out if you have that much faith in technology not to scratch your paint. Your remote control keyfob tells the car what to do from then on, and the car parks itself, shuts down and locks itself up, as any happy
PAV is still in development, but it's a neat idea. It could especially come in handy when trying to slip into one of those ever-shrinking "compact" parking spaces, since it's so hard to get out of the car once you get in the space. Now if they could develop a feature that actually locates available parking spaces for you, we'd be in business.
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ghosthunter 5:37PM (4/23/2008)
it will require a driver when VW put that system into the production car so that they don't have to take the responsiblity when accident happen.
in fact, i have no doubt that Lexus's auto parking can function without a driver, they just don't want to take the responsibility. same reason for all the laser guided cruse control will not bring you to a complete halt.
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Kumail 6:27PM (4/23/2008)
actually, the merc s-class can bring you to a full stop:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=d_Sd4x9VSAw
top gear shows the feature about 2 minutes in. enjoy :D
g.jetson 5:38PM (4/23/2008)
Absurdity is becoming the norm almost everywhere these days. We need cars that will park themselves like we need airbags on the outside of cars to protect bicycle riding weinies in Holland. How about a little effort being put into something useful like devices that explode when cars are tampered with by thieves. Michigan won't even notice the additional pot holes caused by the explosions brought about by disbelieving criminal types.
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Jorge 12:28PM (4/24/2008)
LOL, sign me for one of those, hahaha
c 5:42PM (4/23/2008)
Great,people have a hard time driving straight down the road as it is now....Now they dont even have to pay attention when parking, why dont they just teach people to drive /park properly,this is just going to create worse drivers,lazy,fat,useless,clueless drivers...yeah , they should just take the bus if you cant back a car in a tight or any spot,its not hard useless people,Hell if you cant back in a spot you should not be allowed to drive...end of story..
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Tsunami Racer 5:44PM (4/23/2008)
i dunno. if it means that women on cell phones won't throw their doors open into your car as they get out, i say it's a good thing!!
this PAV might also be faster than a woman on a cell phone trying to park her car at the supermarket!
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Red 5:45PM (4/23/2008)
Ironic, considering the same company (VAG) took a shot at Toyota with an advertisement for a Audi, whose selling point is it's "the car for people who can park themselves". I guess they figured since you're not actually in the car, it's totally different.
I'll take my hypocrisy shaken...not stirred.
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Chase 6:47PM (4/23/2008)
Haha, I was thinking the same thing in regards to that commercial...
Bennet Pullen 5:46PM (4/23/2008)
You know, I don't think that parking spaces are getting smaller. I could be wrong but I think there has been a trend of cars getting larger recently...
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Derek 6:06PM (4/23/2008)
+1
Matt 5:46PM (4/23/2008)
Now I want a car that can drop me off at the front door and go find a spot. Or circle the block while I run in and out real quick.
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Joe 6:45PM (4/23/2008)
So... K.I.T.T.?
Matt 7:24PM (4/23/2008)
Yep, but without the attitude. Or any personality, for that matter.
ugg.tryptophan 5:48PM (4/23/2008)
most impressive, hopefully it doesn't hit the cool wall
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James Hubert 5:57PM (4/23/2008)
I'm curious...it might be a good thing for those li'l tiny parking places with no door room, so you don't have to open the door to get out...but does it also pull back out of the space when you return, so you can get back IN?
I thought not.
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mikomi 6:01PM (4/23/2008)
Auto Valet would be nice after a long day at work.
But realistically, it's really only a goldmine for lawyers.
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Derek 6:06PM (4/23/2008)
Perfect for ramming your Taureg into the compact spot so that the other drivers can't get into their cars, either.
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John R 6:19PM (4/23/2008)
"There is no expedient man will not use so as not to excercise his lazy brain..."
-Sir James so-and-so
I forget who said it.
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mk 6:23PM (4/23/2008)
They can do this stuff....
but we can't get flying cars, WTH???!!! C'mon!
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mroverlord 7:57PM (4/23/2008)
Yup...just what we need to dumb down the population even more.
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