Teaching simulation experiment of automatic-vertical parking based on V-REP
[Objective]As the number of vehicles on the road increases,so does the demand for parking space.This increase has led to smaller parking spaces,making"parking difficulty"a significant challenge,especially for inexperienced drivers.A high frequency of parking-related accidents has brought the effectiveness of automatic parking systems into focus.This study aims to explore the principles and effects of such systems.At the same time,many colleges and universities have set up many innovative experiments connected to theoretical courses that utilize intelligent cars as a medium.However,traditional intelligent car experiments in offline teaching face several issues,including lengthy duration,insufficient equipment,and unsuitable venues.Therefore,there is an urgent need to build a virtual simulation platform to bridge this gap in the online teaching of intelligent car experiments.[Methods]This paper uses simulations to study typical automatic-vertical parking scenarios,focusing on the parking process in standard and narrow parking lanes.A visual simulation system was developed using the virtual robot experimentation platform(V-REP)and Matrix Laboratory(MATLAB)software.The parking scenario is constructed using V-REP,while the vertical parking algorithm is implemented in MATLAB.Communication between these two platforms is facilitated through the user datagram protocol(UDP),allowing vehicle control commands generated in MATLAB to be sent to and executed by V-REP.The system also returns the feedback of vehicle position and speed data to MATLAB.The vehicle control program operates by cyclically sending instructions and receiving vehicle position information,thereby enabling a comprehensive joint simulation experiment.Parking path planning and analysis are conducted using C-shaped and hermitage parking planning algorithms.[Results]The simulation results show the complete process of automatic-vertical parking,showcasing the path characteristics unique to automatic-vertical parking.A virtual simulation experimental environment was built to visually demonstrate the parking process.Utilizing known parking space coordinates and incorporating the collision circle model,two parking strategies have been devised for both standard and narrow parking lanes based on lateral distance.The C-shaped parking scheme is adopted when the width of the parking lane meets or exceeds the recommended width;conversely,the chevron parking scheme is adopted for lanes narrower than the recommended width.The experiments have shown that the planned paths are well-suited to various parking lane dimensions.Automatic parking systems have proven effective in addressing the challenges associated with drivers'parking maneuver skills.[Conclusions]Through simulation experiments and the application of path-planning algorithms,this study provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the further development and improvement of related technologies.Moreover,the establishment of a parking virtual simulation experimental environment effectively overcomes certain drawbacks,such as invisibility,irreversibility,and the high costs associated with traditional experimental teaching methods.Students can leverage their understanding of vehicle parking theories and explore the principles and characteristics of different parking algorithms through hands-on experimentation.This approach enhances the interactive and immersive quality of experimental teaching,ensuring high-quality instruction and improving teaching results.It has significant value in fostering students'engineering practice and innovation abilities,serving as a good example of comprehensive online experimental teaching.