Assignment 4: Solution Development

Assignment 4: Solution Development

1. Design each task in a problem-solving effort so that it is most fruitful and provides the most information or guidance

2. Use various attributes of the final solution state to guide earlier decisions made along the solution path

3. Define design goals and design specifications

4. Eliminate paths that do not satisfy the desired design goals and/or specifications

Tasks

Task: Analyze parking lots for open spots

Design Goal: Accurately detect open spots with cameras as opposed to occupied spots in real time 

Design Specification:  Implement image recognition with cameras that can relay information in real-time

Task: Inform drivers about open parking spots

Design Goal:  Provide users with information about open parking spots in real-time through electronic signs, apps, or website

Design Specification: Create an app and/or website and implement electronic signs for drivers to view in parking lots 

Attributes of the Final Solution State:

• Autonomous system that detects parking spots.

• Simple system requiring minimum hardware.

• Use image recognition to power the detection interface.

• Easy display at entrance for drivers to understand where the open spots are located.

• Robust AI model that will not display occupied spots as open.

Design Goals:

• Make busy parking lots easier and quicker to navigate for drivers.

• Drivers can be directed quickly and effortlessly.

• Relay information about open spots to drivers through electronic signs, app, website, etc.

• Minimize costs by maximizing the use of each component.

• The overall goal is to help people park faster and easier.

Design Specifications:

• Use cameras with image recognition to monitor parking lots for open spots.

• Cameras must know the difference between a dark empty spot and an unavailable spot.

• Cameras need to detect cars regardless of their color.

• The user interface for drivers will display a color for each floor at the entrance ranging from green to red scaling the number of open spots. 

Eliminate Paths:

• Using ping/Lidar sensors to detect cars.

  • This is not as efficient for each parking spot to be detected.

  • This would required more equipment and labor making it cost more

• Displaying exact spots for each driver to go to.

  • It would be unproductive to send a driver to a specific spot from the entrance without knowing if another car will take that spot by the time they get there.