Enhanced alignment method for park assist

1. A method of parking a running vehicle comprising:

measuring a first length of a parked vehicle that is proximate to a desired parking location;

estimating a second length of the parked vehicle based on the measured first length; and

parking the running vehicle based on the estimated second length.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the first length comprises measuring the first length of the parked vehicle using at least one ultrasonic sensor positioned on the running vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising estimating the second length of the parked vehicle based on a population of vehicles having known lengths and widths.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the known lengths and widths of the population of vehicles is expressed as a regression equation that is derived from the known lengths and widths.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the regression equation is linear in the form of y=mx+b, where x corresponds to the first length, y corresponds to the second length, m corresponds to the slope of the regression equation, and b corresponds to the y-intercept of the regression equation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first length is an axial length of the parked vehicle; and

the second length is a width of the parked vehicle;

the method further comprising:

determining an outer edge location of the parked vehicle;

determining an inner edge location of the parked vehicle based on its estimated width; and

parking the running vehicle based on the inner edge location.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a location of a parking space proximate the parked vehicle, wherein the parked vehicle is in front of or behind the parking space;

determining a trajectory for the running vehicle to park the running vehicle in the parking space; and

instructing a driver of the running vehicle which actions to take to park the running vehicle in the parking location.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

measuring a third length of a second parked vehicle that is parked behind or in front of the parking space;

estimating a fourth length of the second parked vehicle based on the measured third length; and

parking the running vehicle based on an average of the estimated fourth length and the second length.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium tangibly embodying computer-executable instructions comprising steps to:

measure a first length of a parked vehicle that is adjacent to a desired parking location;

determine a second length of the parked vehicle based on the measurement; and

execute a vehicle parking algorithm based on the second length estimation.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising steps to measure the first length of the parked vehicle using an ultrasonic sensor.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising steps to determine the second length of the parked vehicle based on a regression equation that is derived from known lengths and widths of a population of vehicles.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the regression equation is linear in the form of y=mx+b, where x corresponds to the first length, y corresponds to the second length, m corresponds to the slope of the regression equation, and b corresponds to the y-intercept of the regression equation.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising steps to:

determine an inner edge of the parked vehicle based on a known location of an outer edge of the parked vehicle and based on the second length of the parked vehicle; and

execute the parking algorithm based on the determination.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the algorithm includes instructions of which actions to take to park a running vehicle in the desired parking location for a driver to execute.

15. A host vehicle comprising:

a system for measuring a first length of a parked vehicle; and

a computer programmed to:

estimate a second length of the parked vehicle based on the first length; and

instruct a controller to park the host vehicle based on the estimated length.

16. The host vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the system comprises at least one ultrasonic sensor.

17. The host vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the computer is further programmed to estimate the second length of the parked vehicle based on a population of vehicles having known lengths and widths, wherein the known lengths and widths of the population of vehicles is expressed as a regression equation that is derived from the known lengths and widths.

18. The host vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the regression equation is linear in the form of y=mx+b, where x corresponds to the first length, y corresponds to the second length, m corresponds to the slope of the regression equation, and b corresponds to the y-intercept of the regression equation.

19. The host vehicle of claim 15 , wherein:

the first length is an axial length of the parked vehicle; and

the second length is a width of the parked vehicle;

wherein the computer is further programmed to:

determine an outer edge location of the parked vehicle;

determine an inner edge location of the parked vehicle based on its estimated width; and

park the host vehicle based on the inner edge location.

20. The host vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the computer is further programmed to:

determine a location of a parking space proximate the parked vehicle, wherein the parked vehicle is in front of or behind the parking space;

determine a trajectory for the host vehicle to park the host vehicle in the parking space; and

instruct a driver of the host vehicle which actions to take to park the host vehicle in the parking location.