A method for determining the depth of a parking space using at least one
ultrasonic vehicle sensor. According to the method, the following steps
are carried out as the vehicle drives longitudinally past the parking
space: a) an ultrasonic wave is emitted, b) echo signals of the emitted
ultrasonic wave are collected within a measuring window, c) the
dispersion is determined and/or the distribution of the echo signals
within that dispersion is determined, d) a depth is defined if the
dispersion range of all and/or several echo signals that form a
concentration within the distribution lies below a pre-determinable
threshold value.