What You Need to Know About Reverse Parking Sensors?

Reverse Parking Sensors (PDC), also known as "Parking Distance Control," serve as safety aids for parking or reversing vehicles. They consist of ultrasonic sensors (commonly known as probes), controllers, and displays or buzzers.

When reversing, they assist the driver in "seeing" objects not visible in the rearview mirror. They audibly or visually inform the driver about the surrounding obstacles, eliminating the inconvenience caused by drivers while parking, reversing, or maneuvering the vehicle back and forth, helping to eliminate blind spots and unclear sightlines to enhance driving safety. However, there are still blind spots for the reverse parking sensors, including obstacles that are too low (below 10-15cm from the probe's center) or very thin obstacles (such as bollards or cables) and pits.

Basic Components

Reverse parking sensors mainly comprise ultrasonic sensors, controllers, and displays or buzzers.

• Ultrasonic Sensors: Their primary function is to emit and receive ultrasonic signals, feeding this information into the main unit for display.

• Controller: Processes the signals to calculate the distance and orientation between the vehicle and obstacles.

• Display or Buzzer: When the sensor detects that the vehicle is at a dangerous distance from obstacles, the system alerts the driver through the display or buzzer.

Working Principle

The PDC system typically involves radar detectors placed on the rear or front and rear bumpers of the vehicle to detect obstacles in the front and rear. This device helps drivers "see" obstacles in the front and rear or the distance between the vehicle and parked cars. Besides facilitating parking, it also protects the vehicle body from scratches.

PDC uses ultrasonic sensors to detect the closest obstacles to the vehicle and emits warning beeps to alert the driver. The warning beeps are usually controlled in two stages: when the vehicle reaches a certain distance from an obstacle, it emits a high-frequency warning beep, and as the vehicle gets closer, the beep turns into a continuous warning beep.

The advantage of PDC lies in providing drivers with information about obstacles or the distance to other vehicles through auditory cues. PDC mainly assists in parking, so its functions deactivate when the vehicle reaches or exceeds a certain speed.

Purchase Considerations

• Quality: The most crucial aspect of reverse parking sensors is their durability and service quality. Premium products offer better services and longer warranty periods.

• Features: Reverse parking sensors can differ in features, including distance display, audible alerts, directional indicators, voice prompts, and automatic probe detection. A comprehensive reverse parking sensor should encompass these features.

• Performance: Performance is assessed based on detection range, accuracy, display stability, and target capture speed. The detection range should be between 0.4 meters and 1.5 meters; accuracy is evaluated based on display resolution, typically 10 centimeters (good ones reach 1 centimeter), and detection error, which should be below 3 centimeters. Display stability refers to the ability to capture and display obstacles' distances even in unfavorable reflection conditions. Target capture speed reflects the sensor's capability to detect moving objects. The requirements for reverse parking sensors are accuracy, stability, wide range, and fast capture speed.

• Aesthetic Craftsmanship: As a part of a vehicle's interior and exterior design, it needs to complement the overall structure and color scheme of the car.

In Detail

Rear Reverse Parking Sensors: These aids, installed on the vehicle's rear bumper, assist in parking or reversing by audibly or visually indicating surrounding obstacles. They alleviate the inconvenience caused by drivers needing to look around extensively while parking, reversing, or starting the vehicle and help eliminate blind spots and unclear sightlines, improving driving safety.

Rear Reverse Parking Sensor Probes: Installed on the rear bumper, these probes radiate at approximately a 45-degree angle, scanning targets vertically and horizontally. Their primary advantage is the detection of obstacles lower than the bumper, which drivers find difficult to see through the rear window, such as flower beds or children playing behind the car.

Gear Position Activated: When shifting to reverse, the reverse parking sensors automatically engage. The buzzer alerts the driver when the probe detects an object behind. As the vehicle continues to reverse, the frequency of the warning sound gradually increases, ultimately becoming a continuous long beep.