Object Detection Description and Operation (Rear Park Assist, UD7): Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2015 Chevrolet Trax and 2015 Buick Encore. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The parking assist system is designed to identify and notify the driver of an object in the vehicle path when reversing at speeds of less than 8 km/h (5 MPH). The distance and location of the object is determined by 4 object sensors located in the rear bumper. The parking assist system will notify the driver using audible beeps through the radio or haptic pulses through the driver's seat. The driver can select between audible or haptic alerts in the vehicle personalization menus. See the user's manual for more detailed information on vehicle personalization.

The parking assist system is made up of the following components:

Parking assist control module
Rear object sensors
Parking assist switch
Parking assist indicator
Radio
Safety Alert Seat, if equipped.

Parking Assist Control Module

The parking assist control module provides a reference voltage and a low reference to the 4 object alarm sensors. The parking assist control module receives individual signals from each of the 4 sensors and determines the location and distance of an object based on these inputs. When an object is detected, the parking assist control module will send a data message via serial data to the radio requesting an audible alert.

Object Sensors

The object sensors are located in the rear bumpers of the vehicle. The sensors are used to determine the distance between an object and the bumper. Each sensor emits an ultrasonic frequency which is reflected off any object located in front of or behind the vehicle. These reflections are received by the sensors. The time difference between the emission of the frequency and when the reflection is received is known as sensor echo time, it is used to determine the distance to the object. The sensors report this information to the parking assist control module.

Parking Assist Switch

The parking assist can be activated and deactivated by pressing the parking assist switch. By engaging the reverse gear the parking assist can also be activated. By subsequently pressing the parking assist switch the parking assist can be disabled again.

Parking Assist Indicator

The indicator in the parking assist switch shows the status of the parking assist. If the lamp is ON, the parking assist is activated.

Radio

The radio controls the audible alert for the park assist alert. If the an object is detected the radio will command beeps as an audible alert to the driver.

Safety Alert Seat

The memory seat module controls the haptic alert provided by the seats. If an object is detected, the memory seat module will command pulses to the driver's seat.