Intelligent Parking assist?.... Why not here?

windstrings · 11-24-2005, 06:55 PM

Wow!.. get a load of this!
I don't know if I could trust this or not... but I am just now tripping upon this little feature only available in Japan. Sounds scary to me!.... but many things do at first!

Called Intelligent Parking Assist:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/15/...ain593482.shtml
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinno...ark-prius_x.htm
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/bown/2003/art...,534657,00.html
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/tech/its/progra...on/parking.html

Wow.. I think its Toyota and not Ford that trying to come up with the "Better" ideas!

daniel · 11-24-2005, 07:27 PM

This subject came up some time ago. Apparently, the parking thingy is very slow. My best guess back then (and I'll stick with this now) is that Americans are just too impatient for it. Do you want to wait 5 minutes (maybe it wasn't that much, but it kind of seemed like it) for your car to park itself, when you could do it yourself in under a minute? How about all the drivers behind you, waiting for you to get into that parking space and out of the driving lane? Also, I think it's very expensive. I'd rather spend the extra money on more battery capacity for improved mileage (which I think it was Wayne Brown demonstrated -- though I'd want it as a factory option, not an aftermarket DIY.)

Slick toy, maybe, but I don't think the auto-parking would be all that useful.

BTW, I lived for six months in an apartment in Seville, Spain, overlooking the street from about 4 floors up. parking was very crowded. I routinely watched people parking (on the first try!!!) in spaces only inches longer than their car. Like maybe 12 inches total longer than their car. It was amazing.

Capitán Pérez de Sevilla was the name of the street, a little, two-block alleyway with a 90-degree turn in it.

later I moved out of that apartment into a better one, but without a view onto the street.

DaveG · 11-24-2005, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by daniel@Nov 24 2005, 05:27 PM
This subject came up some time ago. Apparently, the parking thingy is very slow. My best guess back then (and I'll stick with this now) is that Americans are just too impatient for it. Do you want to wait 5 minutes (maybe it wasn't that much, but it kind of seemed like it) for your car to park itself

[snapback]161188[/snapback]

I think the video I saw of the Japanese version was about 30-45 seconds to park... I could probably do the same move in about 10-15 seconds, so ya, it is slower, but it's pretty cool technology

Dave

**Tideland Prius** · 11-24-2005, 11:41 PM

It does memorise 3 spots so it's more for parking in your usual spots.

Awesome · 11-24-2005, 11:56 PM

Unfortunately, the Japanese likes to keep some of their best or unique features in Japan. That includes cars, accessories, and electronics, plus few other items. I travel to Japan at least once a year, and are always amazed at thngs that you can buy in Japan, but not here in the U.S. If you check out the Japanese Prius web site, you will find out a lot of accessories that is not sold in the U.S. Japanese Prius navigation is also more sophiscated than ours, it shows the surrounding streets in 3D mode, and even shows where a empty space is in a parking area!

So, with this trend in mind, I don't think we'll ever see the parking assistant here in the U.S. at all.

windstrings · 11-24-2005, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveG@Nov 24 2005, 06:57 PM
I think the video I saw of the Japanese version was about 30-45 seconds to park... I could probably do the same move in about 10-15 seconds, so ya, it is slower, but it's pretty cool technology

Dave

[snapback]161212[/snapback]

I think it was 2200.00 smakies!..... yea.. my vote is more batteries!

Doesn't sound like something I would want... I feel I'm a good driver and parker for that matter..and your right.. I'm far too impatient.
And when parallel parking, I like to chose when I'm turning based on traffic on my side also.

thanks for the info.

KMO · 11-25-2005, 01:49 AM

It's just become available in Holland.

aka007ii · 11-25-2005, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Awesome@Nov 24 2005, 08:56 PM
Japanese Prius navigation is also more sophiscated than ours, it shows the surrounding streets in 3D mode, and even shows where a empty space is in a parking area!

[snapback]161287[/snapback]

Crap! How does the NAV know if a parking space is empty? It sounds like every car would need GPS for that to work. And I know I saw the 3D version with outlines of all the biuldings but in some places that would go out of date fast and you'd have to get a new DVD every year for sure.

skijapan · 11-25-2005, 02:11 AM

With my '05, this feature was part of the Navi package. Still have never used it since I can't read the instruction manual and my Toyota dealer couldn't seem to figure it out when he brought my car to me. I surely would not have paid $2200 extra for it. I don't this y'all are missing out on much. One of these days I'll try to figure it out in a big, empty parking lot.

habel · 11-25-2005, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KMO@Nov 25 2005, 08:49 AM
It's just become available in Holland.

[snapback]161311[/snapback]

It's actually available on the 06 all over Europe now, in the so called Tech. Version. And it's not that expensive over here actually.

I will get this with my new car in January - mostly because I think it's a great "gadget"

Here are 2 videos showing the IPA in action, from a great Prius site in the Netherlands:

Reverse Parking:
http://www.john2211.nl/Hybride_overige_fil..._inparkeren.wmv

Parallel Parking:
http://www.john2211.nl/Hybride_overige_fil...le_parkeren.wmv

After watching these - I know what I will do first when I get my car... Turn that annoying Reverse BEEP off!!!!!

11-24-2005, 06:55 PM	#1
windstrings Certified Prius Breeder Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 5,457 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 2 Thanked 98 Times in 80 Posts Friends: 5	Wow!.. get a load of this! I don't know if I could trust this or not... but I am just now tripping upon this little feature only available in Japan. Sounds scary to me!.... but many things do at first! Called Intelligent Parking Assist: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/15/...ain593482.shtml http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinno...ark-prius_x.htm http://www.popsci.com/popsci/bown/2003/art...,534657,00.html http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/tech/its/progra...on/parking.html Wow.. I think its Toyota and not Ford that trying to come up with the "Better" ideas! __________________ Alan ________________________ 2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic IV with Bisque leather...."My Blue Baby" And my "other" cars...... 2006 Barcelona Red Prius Pkg #8 with Bisque leather.... Yea Baby, Yea! "The Hot Tamale" 2006 Silver Pine Mica Pkg#8 with Bisque leather.... "The Mint Julip" 2006 Mods so far: 1. Coastal EV switch 2. BT stiffening Plate 3.Zaino "the works" 4. Heat Shield "from Canvas Works" 5. Magnetic Oil plugs - Yes they work and you want them! 6. Speed sensor now switched!

11-24-2005, 07:27 PM	#2
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 11,819 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 79 Thanked 293 Times in 184 Posts Friends: 0	This subject came up some time ago. Apparently, the parking thingy is very slow. My best guess back then (and I'll stick with this now) is that Americans are just too impatient for it. Do you want to wait 5 minutes (maybe it wasn't that much, but it kind of seemed like it) for your car to park itself, when you could do it yourself in under a minute? How about all the drivers behind you, waiting for you to get into that parking space and out of the driving lane? Also, I think it's very expensive. I'd rather spend the extra money on more battery capacity for improved mileage (which I think it was Wayne Brown demonstrated -- though I'd want it as a factory option, not an aftermarket DIY.) Slick toy, maybe, but I don't think the auto-parking would be all that useful. BTW, I lived for six months in an apartment in Seville, Spain, overlooking the street from about 4 floors up. parking was very crowded. I routinely watched people parking (on the first try!!!) in spaces only inches longer than their car. Like maybe 12 inches total longer than their car. It was amazing. Capitán Pérez de Sevilla was the name of the street, a little, two-block alleyway with a 90-degree turn in it. later I moved out of that apartment into a better one, but without a view onto the street. __________________ Daniel Primary car: Zap Xebra SD, 100% electric. 1.9 cents per mile. Range: 40 miles total, or 32 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 35 mph. Faster downhill. Uses electrons generated from water power. Gas guzzler for when I have to travel farther than 30 miles: 2004 Prius. "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck

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11-24-2005, 11:41 PM	#4
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 21,215 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 370 Thanked 530 Times in 357 Posts Friends: 26	It does memorise 3 spots so it's more for parking in your usual spots.

11-24-2005, 11:56 PM	#5
Awesome Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Western Washington State. Posts: 3 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Unfortunately, the Japanese likes to keep some of their best or unique features in Japan. That includes cars, accessories, and electronics, plus few other items. I travel to Japan at least once a year, and are always amazed at thngs that you can buy in Japan, but not here in the U.S. If you check out the Japanese Prius web site, you will find out a lot of accessories that is not sold in the U.S. Japanese Prius navigation is also more sophiscated than ours, it shows the surrounding streets in 3D mode, and even shows where a empty space is in a parking area! So, with this trend in mind, I don't think we'll ever see the parking assistant here in the U.S. at all.

11-25-2005, 01:49 AM	#7
KMO Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 936 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: T Spirit Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	It's just become available in Holland.

11-25-2005, 02:11 AM	#9
skijapan Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hokkaido, Japan Posts: 87 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: S Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	With my '05, this feature was part of the Navi package. Still have never used it since I can't read the instruction manual and my Toyota dealer couldn't seem to figure it out when he brought my car to me. I surely would not have paid $2200 extra for it. I don't this y'all are missing out on much. One of these days I'll try to figure it out in a big, empty parking lot.