Volkswagen has announced Park Assist Vision, a new system similar to the one available on current VWs and the Lexus LS460 but with a different orientation: perpendicular parking. Volkswagen said that the system will be on display on a Passat prototype at this year's Hanover Fair in Wolfsburg, Germany from April 21 to April 25, and will be able to guide a Passat prototype "with absolute precision into a perpendicular parking space, i.e. the kind available on parking lots and in underground car parks."

The only thing the driver needs to do is select an available space on the monitor of the car's navigation system, set the selection lever of the automatic-drive vehicle (DSG) to "P," and then exit the car, VW said. "The driver can, of course, choose to stay in the vehicle until the vehicle has been maneuvered into its space."

Here's how it works: A camera in each side mirror is responsible for gauging the dimensions of the parking space. The system transmits the video signals to a 2-GHz computer, which analyzes them and sends commands to the steering and drive systems. It reverses the vehicle into the parking space as per the previously computed course, by using electro-mechanical power steering, the electronic parking brake, DSG, and idling engine power, the company said in a statement. Meanwhile, two additional cameras at the front and rear of the vehicle, as well as the system's ultrasound sensors, monitor the operation and will stop the vehicle if necessary.

Source: VW Media Services