CONTROLLED PARKING OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
Systems and methods for controlled parking of autonomous vehicles are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes sending a request from a vehicle to park within a parking area controlled by a parking control system using a bi-directional trust system employing a digital authentication certificate, receiving at the vehicle a parking space assignment from the parking control system indicating an assigned parking space within the parking area using the bi-directional trust system, and autonomously controlling the vehicle to drive the vehicle to the assigned parking space within the parking area.
1 . A method, comprising:
sending a request from a vehicle to park within a parking area controlled by a parking control system using a bi-directional trust system employing a digital authentication certificate;
receiving at the vehicle a parking space assignment from the parking control system indicating an assigned parking space within the parking area using the bi-directional trust system; and
autonomously controlling the vehicle to drive the vehicle to the assigned parking space within the parking area.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the request comprises sending a request using a telematics unit of the vehicle.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein receiving the parking space assignment comprises receiving the parking space assignment at the telematics unit.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the request comprises sending vehicle information.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein autonomously controlling the vehicle comprises autonomously operating a steering module and a drive module of the vehicle.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein autonomously controlling the vehicle comprises sensing an object or a position marking indicator outside of the vehicle.
7 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising sending payment information to a parking payment system associated with the parking control system.
8 . A system, comprising:
a control circuit configured to receive a request from a vehicle to park within a parking area controlled by the system using a bi-directional trust system employing a digital authentication certificate;
a database configured to store the request and to store a configuration of the parking area and the digital authentication certificate; and
a software module configured to determine an optimized parking location for the vehicle within the parking area based on the configuration of the parking area;
the control circuit further configured to send to the vehicle a parking space assignment indicating an assigned parking space within the parking area using the bi-directional trust system.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit comprises an operable electronic connection to a communications interface for receiving the request from a telematics unit of the vehicle.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to receive vehicle information from the vehicle and wherein the database is further configured to store the vehicle information.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the software module is further configured to optimize vehicle parking within the parking area based at least in part on a geometric configuration of the parking area.
12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to send directions to the assigned parking space.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to send object or position marking indicator information to the vehicle.
14 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a parking payment system configured to receive payment information from the vehicle.
15 . A vehicle, comprising:
a telematics unit configured to send a request from the vehicle to park within a parking area controlled by a parking control system using a bi-directional trust system employing a digital authentication certificate;
the telematics unit further configured to receive at the vehicle a parking space assignment from the parking control system indicating an assigned parking space within the parking area using the bi-directional trust system; and
an autonomous vehicle control system configured to controlling the vehicle to drive the vehicle to the assigned parking space within the parking area.
16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the telematics unit is further configured to send payment information to a parking payment system associated with the parking control system.
17 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the telematics unit is further configured to send vehicle information.
18 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the autonomous vehicle control system comprises a steering module and a drive module.
19 . The vehicle of claim 18 , further comprising a sensing device for sensing an object or a position marking indicator outside of the vehicle.
20 . The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the steering module, the drive module, and the sensing device cooperate to enable autonomous movement of the vehicle.