From the archives: Students build their own parallel parking system
Click above to view the YouTube clips after the jump
Ford's recent announcement of a new, automated parallel-parking system has prompted us to drive down Memory Lane and revisit an oldie-but-goodie. A couple years back, a handful of highly-motivated, up-and-coming mechanical engineers from the University of Toledo designed and built their own parallel parking system that seems to work as well as (maybe better than?) anything available to consumers. Though it might seem ridiculous at first, it's absolutely ingenious. The project takes a donated Toyota Corolla, some hydraulics, a motor, plus extra guide wheels and turns them into a brutally simple-yet-effective parallel parking device that could rival the latest techno-wizardry from Lincoln or Lexus.
Okay, okay - it's not perfect. You do have to give up your trunk space, and it sounds like the exhaust no longer benefits from a muffler, but still... Parallel parking takes just 21 seconds with little (if any) help from the driver, and without fancy computers and sensors to monitor all the action. Now as then, this still looks like a winner. Check the two video clips after the jump to see the system in action, and check out the build blog by clicking here. Kudos on the project guys. Hat tip to David for reminding us about this one!
[Source: YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
exkart 7:22PM (1/04/2009)
Bet the mileage sucks though
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AARON 7:36PM (1/04/2009)
This is a 100% ripoff of an old 50s/60s Ford. THe exact same thing where the "spare" tire in the truck that was mounted vertically dropped down and did the same thing.. There was a video of this somewhere, I'll have to find it.. These kids saw obviously saw it.
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rob s 11:01AM (1/05/2009)
Download Jeremy Clarkson - 1995 - Motorsport Mayhem
I'd link to the torrent but I'm not sure if that goes against any of the sites rules. But it should be easy to find on youtorrent.com or pizzatorrent.com
There is a clip of it at the 4:50 mark
rob s 12:21PM (1/05/2009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhAJ5ErGGd8
decided to upload it so everyone can see that this idea isn't original.
LowTeckh 7:43PM (1/04/2009)
That woman could sure use it - finished taking a shower and she almost finished adjusting her park job.
Regarding the project itself, I think it's insanely brilliant. I've watched the Lexus(?) automatic parking assist and it seemed very fussy and complicated, not to mention a ton of restrictions - can't go too fast, requires X amount of space, blah blah blah. This little project just trumps it.
The best auto park system I've seen is Toyota(?)'s bubble-like concept where all the wheels do a 90 degree turn and fit into a spot like Tetris.
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Alvin 7:55PM (1/04/2009)
Nice...someday people won't even know how to parallel park anymore. Driving will be a lost art one day...how sad.
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Seanross 8:23PM (1/04/2009)
Did they really suck at parallel parking that much?
I have Para parked faster than their "project" many a time.
Like Alvin said... Driving is becoming a lost art
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Hao 8:42PM (1/04/2009)
I can p-park faster than they could ever with or without that mechanism. Learn how to drive/park.
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JZeke 9:21PM (1/04/2009)
This is good for those saps that can't park, means the spaces available will all be more fairly sized...
AND NO MORE F*****G IDIOT SCRAPES!!!
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jonathan 9:44PM (1/04/2009)
holy gods, watching that person park was infuriating. how could they take so long
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JDMlover 10:56PM (1/04/2009)
Thank you. Her 41 seconds would have been like 15 for me.....seriously.....watching really god me a little upset...hate to see people who park like pussies...PARK THE DAMN THING !!
Parking is really not that hard..honestly
BigTeebo 9:54PM (1/04/2009)
I like it. Also great if you need to turn around in a small area and you need to do that "Austin Powers thing"(back up & turn & go forward & turn several times).
I still want that gizmo I saw on Batman's car in a Scooby Doo cartoon. A base comes out form the bottom of the center of the belly, raises the car & it turns it 180 degrees.
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Avoid 10:41PM (1/04/2009)
These parking systems remind me of a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dpDL5-h6Bc
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Jerk Face 9:07AM (1/05/2009)
Ha ha, awesome. : )
b0nesc 10:42PM (1/04/2009)
All I can say is this is pretty old and they were beaten by a few decades. I don't remember where but I have seen old footage of a concept car where they had that type of system for parallel parking. I am sure others have seen it as well.
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xantia10000 2:20AM (1/06/2009)
That Corolla sounded like a diesel!
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skiwithme 8:53AM (1/05/2009)
actually this system might come in much more handy in a situation like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF8RGgIDic4&feature=related
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skant 10:18AM (1/05/2009)
wow what a terrible parallel parking job. How we just practice or do it like audi does :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVaFbkg9jRs
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Dave 4:55PM (1/05/2009)
Hah... I graduated with/was in the same senior design project class with these guys... it was definitely slicker in person than the vids.
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CO's neighbor 7:37PM (1/05/2009)
another example of an existing effort: the Sbarro Robur from the '80's. IMO, one of the coolest cars ever made, with a spot (parallel, of course) reserved in my dream garage.
http://www.carstyling.ru/cars.1988_Sbarro_Robur.html
if i had one, i'd put subaru emblems on it just to screw with people. and screw with them it would, me thinks.
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