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Toyota Offers Automatic Parallel Parking Option

Posted by timothy on from the hover-parking-would-be-better dept.

dstone writes "For drivers who can't parallel park very well, relief is available in Japan. Toyota Motor Corp. is offering a $2,200 option package for its Prius (a gas-electric hybrid car) that includes a computer imaging system which stuffs your car into parallel parking spaces on demand. The driver must manually initiate the process and control the brakes while the car steers in reverse. Some might say if you can't master parallel parking, perhaps you shouldn't be driving. However, the article at Modbee.com points out that in Japan, streets are jammed and parallel parking spaces can be ruthlessly small. 80% of Prius customers have opted for this package. But will the car plug the meter when I run out of time?"

5 of 504 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why the brake need? by dwhittington · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Then Toyota would fight over who was negligent when the thing crashs and the airbags deploy.

  2. Large Cars as Status Symbols by Elanor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What pricks my curiosity is why large cars are such a status symbol. In a city like New York, you have these massive limos that must be impossible to park (I guess that's why you get one with a driver, so they can drive around the block while you entertain yourself). London seems to be riddled with big ol' 4wd monsters that never even see a national route, let alone go off-road. Admittedly the Smart car is a bit uglee, but if you're only going to be averaging 30mph and need to park to a short order, seems a sensible option...

    My 2 coppers.

    - Lnr

  3. Lawsuit waiting to happen in the US by sllim · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I know nothing about lawsuits in Japan, so this may not be a factor.

    But when I read the article (bad slashdotter, BAD!) and came to the part that said 'there is no onboard object recognition, so there is nothing that is going to stop you from running over something in the parking space.' I thought, oooohhhh boy.

    I don't think this will make it to the US for this reason. If it does, then the first time someone runs over someone elses dog all hell is gonna break loose. People are gonna be saying that it is in fact Toyota's fault that they ran over the dog.

    Stupid lawsuits, stupid people.

    Come to think of it wew may never get that feature in the US no matter how good of a job they do.

    Lets say a company does make a decent object recognition package for the car, is it possible for them to actually be 100 percent sure that the car will recognize an object in 100 percent of situations that come along?

    Cause as soon as that figure moves to 99 percent then some doofushead is gonna argue that the object recognition feature takes the responsibility of running something over out of there hands and into the car manufacturers hands.

    Nah, we will never see it on our shores.

  4. Re:No thanks... by ComaVN · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Except, of course, when your faulty car cruise-controls you into a lake and the electronics go out. Now, where's that hammer?

    --
    Be wary of any facts that confirm your opinion.
  5. People who need this shouldn't be driving? by Kalewa · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Standard response to anything that makes something easier (or just require less skill). A good GUI? If you need it you shouldn't be on a computer. Automatic transmission? For sissies who can't drive stick.

    Truth is, a lot of drivers out there are probably a hazard to the rest of us, but anything that assists them and makes them less of a hazard is a good thing in my opinion.

    Just because you're good at parallel parking, manual shifting, and using a command line doesn't mean that anyone who can't do those things well is inferior.