Intelligent Parking Assist System (IPAS) is one of the first automatic parking assist systems that were developed by Toyota for Lexus and Prius hybrid cars. The IPAS enables self-parking of a car without bothering the driver for consistent inputs. The system works via button controls and in-dash screen. The park assist was first deployed in the Prius hybrid while Lexus LS was the first car to carry this system out of Japan. The system became part of next generation models of these vehicles.
What intrigues our interest in this system is its unique technology and support potential. The Intelligent Park Assist program employs computer processors that coordinate with the car’s backup camera, sonar warning system, and two extra front end sensors located on front side fenders. The sonar parking sensing system is constituted by multiple sensors positioned on the rear and front end bumpers. These sensors are capable of sensing physical obstacles and emanate sound warnings upon detection. They also calculate the optimum steering angles that would be required to bring the car in parking position. The additional sensors work in association with the computer processor which is also integrated with car’s backup camera. These three work as a team to provide the car’s parking assist system with all required information.
The steering angle data collected by the sonar parking sensors is displayed on the inner screen along with information about the obstacle. The IPAS expands its reach and accessibility as the car gets in the reverse mode. As the car moves in reverse direction, the backup camera gets on and starts relaying the received images to the screen. As the park assist comes into action, the processor then calculates the steering angles that the car will need to take in parallel and reverse direction. The analyzed info is then sent to the Electric Power Steering system that then guides the car to the correct parking spot.
