WHAT IS PARK ASSIST TECHNOLOGY

Park assist technology is an automated parking guidance system that uses radars and camera-based sensors to help drivers park safely and efficiently. When initiated, the technology autonomously parks vehicles in tight corners with little input from the observing driver.

WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME PARK ASSIST TECH WAS USED

Ligier developed an electric car with a park assist prototype in 1990. In 2003, Toyota deployed its Intelligent Parking Assistant on Prius hybrids allowing it to perform automatic parallel parking. It was the first park assist technology in commercial use.

HOW DOES PARK ASSIST TECHNOLOGY MAKE DRIVING EASIER

Park assist technology uses sensors and cameras to detect obstacles and spaces around the car. When the sensors detect a suitable spot, the driver receives confirmation to initiate parking.

Over the decades, park assist technologies have developed to offer a spectrum of parking aids. Simple systems project a video of the car’s surroundings on a screen that the driver uses to park the vehicle safely.

Other more complex systems require the driver to initiate the process. Ford’s Active Park Assist, for instance, can perform perpendicular and parallel parking with the driver sitting in the vehicle.

Hyundai’s Remote Smart Parking Assist allows the driver to step out of the vehicle and initiate parking with a keyfob.

Automatic parking reduces the stress of manually steering into tight spaces while straining to see all sides, improving driver comfort.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE PARK ASSIST

Park assist has some advantages. 

• It allows drivers to park quickly and easily. 
• With ultrasonic sensors around the vehicle, drivers can enjoy safe and hassle-free parking.
• Automatic parking reduces the risks of human and vehicular accidents.
• It ensures the optimization of parking spaces in crowded areas.
• Park assist can be helpful even in the dark.
• Park assistant allows quick exit from a parking space.

Some disadvantages of the park assist technology include:

• Some sensors are not suitable beyond certain distances and angles.
• Park assistant sensors have blind spots due to their location on the car’s bumper. They miss objects to the side or above the bumper. 
• Debris blotting the sensors also limits their functionality.
• Slippery roads or accidentally moving the steering wheel can stop the parking sequence.
• Waves and loud external sounds could cause the sensors to malfunction.

LIST OF THE POPULAR CARS THAT HAVE PARK ASSIST TECH

Since Toyota’s success, many car brands have developed various park assist technologies.

• Ford: Active Park Assist
• Lexus: Intuitive Parking Assist
• BMW: Parking Assistant
• Mercedes-Benz: Parktroic
• Jeep: ParkSense
• Volvo: Park Assist Pilot
• Tesla: Park Assist

ARE THERE PARK ASSIST CARS IN GHANA

Many cars in Ghana have park assist technology. The Citroën C4 Picasso comes with Park Assist driver assistance technology.  Land Rover vehicles in Ghana also feature park assist technology to help drivers park safely and efficiently.

Other carmakers like Jaguar, Renault, and BMW offer park assistance using a combination of cameras and sensors.