A computer-based assisted parking system and method for parking a vehicle into a parking space includes at least one sensor arranged to sense a position of the vehicle to be parked in a predetermined area adjacent the vehicle; a sensing system for at least two-dimensional reconstruction of feedback received from the one sensor; a path planning system for determining whether positions of other vehicles adjacent the parking space provide sufficient clearance for the vehicle to be parked and providing a planned path indicating how the vehicle to be parked will be maneuvered; a control system for controlling maneuvering of the vehicle to be parked based on the planned path determined by the path planning system, and the control system controls vehicle steering, direction, speed, and application of brakes, so that the vehicle to be parked is maneuvered into the parking space. Alternatively, directions may be given as the vehicle is parked under the control of the driver.

An apparatus is adapted to prevent the theft of a wheeled vehicle having air brakes (e.g., large trucks and buses). A brake valve is selectively actuated by linear movement of an exposed knob that is located adjacent a supporting structure in the cab, and a valve housing is mounted behind the supporting structure. A new structural base is permanently connected to the valve housing in an exposed position in the vehicle's cab. The base is normally accessible to the driver at all times, but it is thin enough so that it will not interfere with normal push/pull movement of the valve's knob. A rigid and generally hollow cover is adapted to be selectively suspended over and in contact with the structural base. The cover is sufficiently deep as to envelop the valve's knob in order to conceal it and render it inaccessible when the cover is suspended over the base. The cover is selectively removable from the base so as to permit the driver to remove the cover and thereby have access to the knob. A locking device is provided for selectively locking the rigid cover in its suspended position over the structural base. In the preferred embodiment the cover is made of a double-wall box that is heat treated to resist tampering. The cover does not contact the valve stem or the knob, so any hammer blows on the cover by a thief will not be transferred to either the stem or the knob.