Toyota Wows the World with Automated Parking
IVsource.net
12 September 2003

Toyota announced this month the Japanese launch of the all-new Prius hybrid passenger vehicle.  With this vehicle, Toyota claims two “world firsts” in the intelligent vehicles arena:  steering-assisted Vehicle Stability Control system (S-VSC) and Intelligent Parking Assist.

Toyota announced this month the Japanese launch of the all-new Prius hybrid passenger vehicle through "Toyota" and "Toyopet" dealers. The new Prius will be released first in Japan and then successively in the United States, Europe and other markets.

With this vehicle, Toyota claims two “world firsts” in the intelligent vehicles arena:

• Steering-assisted Vehicle Stability Control system (S-VSC)

• Intelligent Parking Assist system, to guide steering in curbside parking and similar situations

According to the company, the Prius, first launched in 1997 as the world's first mass-produced hybrid passenger car, has earned a strong reputation worldwide for its innovative character, setting new global benchmarks for automotive environmental performance and becoming the world's leading hybrid vehicle with cumulative sales of over 120,000 units.  

The vehicle is equipped with the next-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS II), developed around the concept of Hybrid Synergy Drive that represents a 'sophisticated fusion of ecology and power.'  It not only attains a world-leading level of environmental performance, the world's highest level of fuel efficiency (35.5 km/liter, or 82 mpg) and ultra-low emissions, but also greatly heightens the "fun to drive" quotient through the further evolution of hybrid power.

Steering Assisted VSC

Coordinated control is provided by the combination of the vehicle movement control system, which uses the best of hybrid control technology to seamlessly integrate VSC (Vehicle Skid Control) with ABS (Automatic Braking System), ECB (Electrically Controlled Brake system), which provides efficient wheel-by-wheel hydraulic brake control independently and in a linear fashion to all four wheels, a TRC (Traction Control System) motor, which controls drive power, and the new EPS (Electric Power Steering), which assists steering.  This combination ensures improved driving stability during acceleration from start, steering, braking and other driving situations.

Toyota claims these systems also provide excellent 'emergency avoidance' performance in conjunction with the superior basic functions of the body and chassis.

Intelligent Parking Assist

IPA uses electrically operated power steering and backup guide monitor technology help drivers during curbside parking and when reversing into parking spaces.  The system is available as an option on DVD navigation system-fitted vehicles.

That’s all the press release says -- but what does it really do?

Contacts familiar with the system say that it is a natural next step beyond today’s parking assist systems, which provide a video image of the area behind the car to indicate clearance distances and obstacles.  The Toyota system, actually developed by Aisin-Seiki, uses that backwards-looking video image to calculate a set of maneuvers needed to occupy the parking space, whether the situation calls for parallel parking or moving straight into a tight space.  The driver is responsible for throttle and brake, and the IPA controls steering automatically through an actuator mounted in the steering column.  The navigation system display is used to prompt the driver to change gears, go forward, backward, etc. (hence the DVD/Nav system bundling).  So, in short: you do the pedals, it does the wheel.

While not, therefore, a fully automated system, such an implementation gives automotive engineers (and executives) an opportunity to assess the robustness of automated steering in a real-world environment which is low speed and relatively low-risk, as well as assess driver reactions to vehicle control.  Introduction of systems such as the Toyota IPA thus represent an important step towards advanced levels of vehicle control for everyday on-road driving.

The IPA system has received a surprising level of press coverage, with mentions including CNN Headline News in the USA.  The system will be featured as part of the Aisin-Seiki booth at the ITS World Congress in Madrid this November.

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