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Automatic Parallel Parking System

 Saves you a bout of in-car aerobics
 
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(This idea too is an inspiration from that of another halfbaker's: REWIND BUTON by [AO] (see [link])

The basic manoeuvres of parallel parking are pretty simple and are explained for the unlightened in the (second) [link].

(PLEASE NOTE: I got this link from a US website; if people driving RHDrive Vehicles want to follow the basic principles of parallel parking, remember to interchange LEFT and RIGHT in every sentence!)

For those too lazy to open another window: To parallel park one basically has to line up with the vehicle one would park behind, shift to reverse, and turn the steering wheel around at specific points in the parking process.

This entire procedure can be pre-recorded in a 'macro' that can be stored in the car's computers. All the driver has to do then is to line up next to a car, step out, press a button, and - a la James Bond - whoosh... Your car's parked!

There could be laser lights attached to the rear bumper and an extendable rubber arm attached to the appropriate side of the car to help even the most uncoordinated driver line up properly with the other car.

Of course... This system, or any other system, will never be foolproof... For we shall always have woman drivers!

—joker_of_the_deck, Apr 20 2003

REWIND BUTON by [AO] http://www.halfbake...dea/Rewind_20Button
[joker_of_the_deck, Oct 04 2004]

Parallel Parking explained http://www.teendriving.com/parallel.htm
[joker_of_the_deck, Oct 04 2004]

BMW's Parking Assistant http://www.selfmade...arker's%20guide.htm
One link of many [angel, Oct 04 2004]

Mathematical formula for parallel parking http://www.thesunda...64%255E5422,00.html
Apr 20, 2003: Dr. Rebecca Hoyle of Surrey University has worked out the math for you! [krelnik, Oct 04 2004]

Wired News: Park Without Dings -- or Drivers http://www.wired.co...,1282,60154,00.html
Aug 25 2003: Baked by Toyota! [krelnik, Oct 04 2004]

[link]






       the inspirational idea for this idea was in turn inspired by Rewind Futon   

       so by your logic women are fools - dangerous ground you be stepping on.
—po, Apr 20 2003
   

       //For we shall always have woman drivers!//

And it's just so ironic, isn't it, that men have higher insurance rates.
—pluterday, Apr 20 2003
   

       Wow! I seem to have stepped on many toes here!   

       I'm sorry about the woman-driver crack ppl! It was meant to be a joke! C'mon, when Tim Allen did it, no one called HIM an @$$hole!   

       Again, sorry if I ruffled a few feathers, but I was going in for FUNNY, not for INSULTING.   

       Wont happen again.
—joker_of_the_deck, Apr 21 2003
   

       Baked by BMW (linky).
—angel, Apr 21 2003
   

       Parallel parking is one art-form i'd be loath to surrender. I especially like the part where u sight the other vehicles in any available (eg. shop- ) windows. Besides, I'm fairly sure the kingswood ISN'T Macro-enabled. Still, I'm sure people missed hand-cranking engines when that was superseded too.   

       On male/female driving: Insurance Company spokesman on radio said, "bad news fellas, men cause 61% of accidents " A caller to station later quoted his own insurance company's research which revealed that actually, 68% of the driver-hours on the road are Male.   

       ie 61% of accidents caused by 68% of driver(hours)>>> Hence 32% of the driver-hours (female) are causing 39% of prangs......sorry girls..
—peter2, Apr 22 2003
   

       Ran across an article published the day you posted your idea, that talks about a formula for parallel parking. Perhaps that's the starting point for your design.   

       The article points out that the formula was devised by a woman, to add to the other debate here.   

       See link.
—krelnik, Apr 23 2003
   

       - well, most of them are easy to subvert - give or take a single standard deviation.
—hippo, Apr 23 2003
   

       point taken ub   

       apart fom that, apparently it's still the guys that get into the worst crashes....the serious s***.   

       so.... as u say Statistics are easy to subvert....
—peter2, Apr 28 2003
   

       LOL   

       Think...   

       young woman, Cell Phone, putting on make up, with a kid in the back seat   

       Ie. kid could be any age really...   

       Where is the attention ???
—red_slider, May 22 2003
   

       This has been baked in the Japanese version of the Toyota Prius, see link.
—krelnik, Aug 25 2003
   
      
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