FOUR-WHEELER VEHICLE PARKING DEVICE

Abstract

A four-wheeler vehicle parking device comprises a rectangular base 101 having a rectangular first part and a rectangular second part, four motorized omnidirectional wheels 102 for a locomotion of the base 101, a pair of front and rear clamps 104 for a gripping of the front and rear wheels 102 of the vehicle, a hydraulic pusher 105, for a lifting of the vehicle to a predetermined distance, a laser sensor detects a length of the vehicle and actuate the drawer mechanism to extend a length of the base 101 to position, a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit 106 determines an empty parking slot, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 107 to determine an obstacle and a microphone 108 for receiving an audio command from the user regarding parking of the vehicle.

Specification

Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a four-wheeler vehicle parking device that is capable of parking the four wheeler vehicles in an organized manner by determining the empty space as the parking slot as well as determining the obstacles in the path of the parking and avoiding the obstacle route.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Vehicle parking in an arranged manner is the primary requirement as the number of the vehicles in the society is increasing day by day with the large numbers. This rapid increase in the number of the vehicles makes a burden on the people for the placing of the vehicles. The proper parking of the vehicles is much required as to control the traffic flow and the congestion. People face the problems in searching for the places to park the vehicles in an organized manner.

[0003] Traditionally, the vehicles are parked manually with the help of the human guidance. This method of parking the vehicles are not convenient for the people as it take much time. The accuracy in the manual process is not considered highly as it require the effort and time to search for the place of the parking. The process also brings the damage to the vehicles. Thus, there exist a requirement to make an invention that helps the use in parking the vehicles automatically without involving any human intervention.

[0004] US20200180695A1 discloses about an invention that has a parking robot for a transportation vehicle and a method for operating a parking robot. The parking robot has a pair of wheel bearing arms which use a crank element to indirectly mount rotatable about a respective rotation axis. The parking robot autonomously moves from the outside to a receiving position beside a wheel of a wheel axle of the transportation vehicle in which the respective wheel bearing arms are parallel with the wheel axle and one of the wheel bearing arms in a vehicle longitudinal direction is positioned in front of the wheel and the other wheel bearing arm in the vehicle longitudinal direction is positioned behind the wheel. The parking robot raises the wheel of the transportation vehicle by rotating the respective wheel bearing arm about the respective rotation axis in a predefined rotation direction, wherein the respective rotation directions of the respective wheel bearing arms are mutually opposed. US'695 is able to part the transporting vehicles in different direction in the case the parking slot is known. However, the device is not able to determine the empty space for the parking slots.

[0005] CN104612437A discloses about an invention that relates to a liftable parking robot which comprises a robot base. The robot base comprises two parallel robot lateral bodies. The two robot lateral bodies are connected through a robot body to form a U-shaped cavity for accommodating a car body. Positions at the bottom of the robot base and close to four corners are provided with drive wheels allowing the robot base to move. Two parallel lifting mechanisms are disposed on the robot body. Parallel Z-shaped car wheel bearing mechanisms are respectively disposed on the two lifting mechanisms. Each lifting mechanism is a multi-stage telescopic lifting mechanism. Due to the fact that the lifting mechanisms are the multi-stage telescopic lifting mechanisms, when the car body is placed on the car wheel bearing mechanisms, the effective height of the car wheel bearing mechanisms can be increased by the multi-stage telescopic lifting mechanisms to allow the car body to reach an appointed height position, three-dimensional parking is achieved, and garage parking capacity is increased. CN'437 is able to park the four-wheeler vehicle by placing the vehicle in between the jaws of the robot. However, the device is in capable of determining the obstacles in the path of parking and avoiding the paths.

[0006] Conventionally, many devices are present in the market as mentioned in the prior arts that helps in parking the four-wheeler vehicles but lacks in determining the empty space for the parking slots as well as determining the obstacles in the path of parking and avoiding the paths.

[0007] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there exists a need in the art to develop a device that is capable of determining the obstacles in the path of the parking and avoiding the obstacle route as well as parking the four wheeler vehicles in an organized manner by determining the empty space as the parking slot.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of parking the four wheeler vehicles in an organized manner by determining the empty space as the parking slot.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of determining the obstacles in the path of the parking and avoiding the obstacle route.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is portable and reliable to nature.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to a four-wheeler vehicle parking device that is capable of parking the four wheeler vehicles in an organized manner by determining the empty space as the parking slot as well as determining the obstacles in the path of the parking and avoiding the obstacle route and follow the straight path for the smooth parking.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a four-wheeler vehicle parking device comprises a rectangular base, having a rectangular first part and a rectangular second part attached by a drawer mechanism, the base having four motorized omnidirectional wheels for a locomotion of the base, a pair of front clamps provided on opposing edges of the first part for a gripping of the front wheels of a vehicle, a pair of rear clamps provided on opposing edges of the second part for a gripping of the rear wheels of the vehicle, the first part and the second part is attached by a hydraulic pusher, for a lifting of the vehicle to a predetermined distance and a laser sensor provided on the base detects a length of the vehicle.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the proposed device further comprises of a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit provided on the base, determines an empty parking slot, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit, installed on the base to determine an obstacle that triggers the microcontroller to actuate the wheels to avoid the obstacle, a microphone, provided on the base for receiving an audio command from the user regarding parking of the vehicle and a wireless communication module provided on the base for enabling the user to remotely control the functioning of the device.

[0016] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations might be possible that would fall within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a four-wheeler vehicle parking device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises," and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having" and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.

[0020] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.

[0021] The present invention relates to a four-wheeler vehicle parking device that is capable of parking the four wheeler vehicles in an organized manner by determining the empty space as the parking slot as well as determining the obstacles in the path of the parking and avoiding the obstacle route and follow the straight path for the smooth parking.

[0022] Referring to Figure 1 a perspective view of a four-wheeler vehicle parking device is illustrated comprising a rectangular base 101 having four motorized omnidirectional wheels 102, a pair of front clamps 103 provided on opposing edges of the first part of the base 101, a pair of rear clamps 104 provided on opposing edges of the second part of the base 101 attached by a hydraulic pusher 105, a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit 106 provided on the base 101, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 107 installed on the base 101 and a microphone 108 provided on the base 101.

[0023] The proposed device includes a rectangular base 101, having a rectangular first part and a rectangular second part attached by a drawer mechanism. The drawer mechanism. The drawer arrangement comprises of a carriage assembly and a DC (direct current) motor that works in collaboration to extend and retract the parts of the rectangular base 101. The carriage assembly fitted with two rails that are used for sliding the two parts of the rectangular base 101 up and down. The block opening located at the end of the rail and have two clips that are used to secure the first part with the second part. To extend the drawer, the drawer is pushed to open and the carriage assembly slide outward. This creates an opening to allow extension and retraction of the arrangement to provide translation to both the parts of the rectangular base 101.

[0024] Herein, a microphone 108 linked with a microcontroller, provided on the base 101 for receiving an audio command from the user to activate and de-activate the device to operate the device accordingly. The microphone 108 receives sound waves generated by energy emitted from the voice command in the form of vibrations. After then, the sound waves are transmitted towards a diaphragm configured with a coil. Upon transmitting the waves within the diaphragm, the diaphragm strikes with the waves due to which the coil starts moving the diaphragm with a back-and-forth movement in presence of magnetic field generated from the coil.

[0025] After that the electric signal is emitted from the coil due to back-and-forth movement of the diaphragm which is further transmitted to the microcontroller linked with the microphone 108 to process the signal and analyze the signal to detect the voice command given by the user. After analyzing the signal the microcontroller triggers all the components to operate the device for parking the four-wheeler vehicle.

[0026] Further, the user also access a computing unit linked to the microcontroller via a communication module to give the input commands regarding activation and deactivation of the device. Herein, the computing unit includes but not limited to mobile or laptop that comprises the processor where the input given by the user is stored and processed. The microcontroller wirelessly linked to the computing unit via the communication module that includes but not limited to Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) module, Bluetooth module. GSM (Global System for Mobile communication). The communication module acts as a medium between various electronic unit for establishing communication between the computing unit and device to process the input given by the user to activate or de-activate the device accordingly for the parking of the four-wheeler vehicles.

[0027] Further, the rectangular base 101 is configured with four motorized omnidirectional wheels 102 for a locomotion of the base 101. The motorized omnidirectional wheels 102 are the piece of the metal that are commonly known as the roller are powered by a moto the controls the motion of the wheels 102 that provide the motion to the rectangular base 101 to be present at the concerned area. A pair of front clamps 103 provided on opposing edges of the first part for a gripping of the front wheels 102 of a vehicle and a pair of rear clamps 104 provided on opposing edges of the second part for a gripping of the rear wheels 102 of the vehicle. The clamps used herein comprises three parts that are shoulder, elbow and the wrist. All these parts are connected with the microcontroller. The microcontroller provides the motion to the first part of the clamps that allows the movement of the second part independently. Lastly, the upper part of the clamps starts the working that work as the hand for acquiring the grip over the rear wheels 102 of the vehicle and the front wheels 102 of the vehicle.

[0028] Continually, each of the front clamp and each the rear clamp is attached to the first part and the second part is attached by a hydraulic pusher 105 for lifting of the vehicle to a predetermined distance. The hydraulic pusher 105 is powered with a hydraulic unit that comprises the pump filled with the oil that aids in the extraction and retraction of the hydraulic pusher 105. The hydraulic unit is also connected with the air compressor, valves and piston that provides the means to the pusher 105 to extend/retract. The piston and the valves attached dispense the oil and the compressed air to the pusher 105 by the means of which the hydraulic pusher 105 extend or retract for lifting of the vehicle to a predetermined distance.

[0029] Further, a laser sensor provided on the base 101 detects a length of the vehicle. The laser sensor consists of an emitter and receiver, and works on the principle of measuring the time delay between the laser beam to travel to the vehicle and back. The laser sensor emits a light towards the surface of vehicle and when the laser beam hits the surface of the vehicle, the beam reflects back towards the receiver of the sensor. Upon detection of reflected beam by the sensor, the sensor precisely measures the time taken for the laser beam to travel to and back from the surface of the vehicle. The sensor then calculates the time of reflecting back of the light and the calculated time is then converted into electrical signal, in the form of current, and send to the microcontroller. Upon receiving the signals, the microcontroller analyses the length of the vehicle and actuate the drawer mechanism to extend a length of the base 101 to position the front clamps 103 adjacent to the front wheels 102 of the vehicle and the rear clamps 104 adjacent to the rear wheels 102 of the vehicle.

[0030] Continually, a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit 106 provided on the base 101 to determine empty parking slot. The GPS unit sends the signals of the detected location of the ground to the satellite for searching the empty space
and after then a controller process that signal to analyze the space on the ground surface. Further, that data of coordinates are sent back to the
GPS unit where the microcontroller analyze that coordinates data and based on
the detected space on the ground surface the microcontroller determines the parking slot and actuates the actuate the wheels 102 to move the vehicle to the determined parking slot.

[0031] Moreover, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 107, installed on the base 101 to determine an obstacle in the path. The artificial intelligence based imaging unit 107 is constructed with a camera lens and a processor, wherein the camera lens is adapted to capture a series of images of the parking slot. The processor carries out a sequence of image processing operations including pre-processing, feature extraction, and classification. The image captured by the artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 107 is real-time images of the parking slot. The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit transmits the captured image signal in the form of digital bits to the microcontroller.

[0032] The microcontroller upon receiving the signal, analyzes the information extracted from the received signal and determines the presence of the obstacle in the parking slot. Based on the determined obstacle, the microcontroller actuate the wheels 102 to move accordingly and avoid the obstacles in the path.

[0033] Lastly, a battery is installed within the device which is connected to the microcontroller that supplies current to all the electrically powered components that needs an amount of electric power to perform their functions and operation in an efficient manner. The battery utilized here, is generally a dry battery which is made up of Lithium-ion material that gives the device a long-lasting as well as an efficient DC (Direct Current) current which helps every component to function properly in an efficient manner. As the device is battery operated and do not need any electrical voltage for functioning. Hence the presence of battery leads to the portability of the device i.e., user is able to place as well as moves the device from one place to another as per the requirements.

[0034] The present invention works best in the following manner where the rectangular base 101, having the rectangular first part and the rectangular second part attached by a drawer mechanism. The motorized omnidirectional wheels 102 provides the locomotion to the base 101 by the commands given via the microphone 108 and the device is controlled remotely with the help of the computing unit. The pair of front clamps 103 grip the front wheels 102 of the vehicle and the pair of rear clamps 104 grip the rear wheels 102 of the vehicle. The hydraulic pusher 105 lift the vehicle to the require length at the time of the parking. The laser sensor detects the length of the vehicle based on which the drawer mechanism extend to the length of the base 101 to position the front clamps 103 adjacent to the front wheels 102 of the vehicle and the rear clamps 104 adjacent to the rear wheels 102 of the vehicle. The GPS (Global Positioning System) unit 106 determines the empty parking slot and actuate the wheels 102 to move the vehicle to the determined parking slot. The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 107 determines the obstacle and actuate the wheels 102 to avoid the obstacle route.

[0035] Although the field of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. , Claims:1) A four-wheeler vehicle parking device, comprising:

i) a rectangular base 101, having a rectangular first part and a rectangular second part attached by a drawer mechanism, said base 101 having four motorized omnidirectional wheels 102 for a locomotion of said base 101;
ii) a pair of front clamps 103 provided on opposing edges of said first part for a gripping of said front wheels 102 of a vehicle and a pair of rear clamps 104 provided on opposing edges of said second part for a gripping of said rear wheels 102 of said vehicle, wherein each said front clamp and each said rear clamp is attached to said first part and said second part is attached by a hydraulic pusher 105, for a lifting of said vehicle to a predetermined distance;
iii) a laser sensor provided on said base 101 detects a length of said vehicle to trigger a microcontroller to actuate said drawer mechanism to extend a length of said base 101 to position said front clamps 103 adjacent to said front wheels 102 of said vehicle and said rear clamps 104 adjacent to said rear wheels 102 of said vehicle; and
iv) a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit 106 provided on said base 101, determines an empty parking slot, to trigger said microcontroller to actuate said wheels 102 to move said vehicle to said determined parking slot, wherein an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 107, installed on said base 101 and integrated with a processor for recording and processing images in a vicinity of said base 101, to determine an obstacle to trigger said microcontroller to accordingly actuate said wheels 102 to avoid said obstacle.

2) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a microphone 108, linked with said microcontroller, provided on said base 101 for receiving an audio command from said user regarding parking of said vehicle to trigger said microcontroller to actuate said laser sensor to detect said length of said vehicle, to actuate said drawer mechanism to extend said base 101 as per said detected length, actuate said clamps and said hydraulic pusher 105 to grip said wheels 102 of said vehicles to lift said vehicle and actuate said wheels 102 to move said vehicle to said empty parking spot determined by said GPS unit.

3) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wireless communication module, linked with said microcontroller, is provided on said base 101 for enabling said user to remotely trigger said microcontroller, by connecting with a computing unit, to actuate said laser sensor to detect said length of said vehicle, to actuate said drawer mechanism to extend said base 101 as per said detected length, actuate said clamps and said hydraulic pusher 105 to grip said wheels 102 of said vehicles to lift said vehicle and actuate said wheels 102 to move said vehicle to said empty parking spot determined by said GPS unit, for a parking of said vehicle.

4) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a battery is associated with said device for powering up electrical and electronically operated components associated with said device.

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