In urban environments, finding a parking space can be difficult for vehicle owners as a lack of parking is frequently a troubling aspect of cities.
However, Daimler and Bosch believe that they have the answer in an automated valet system where users can be assigned a parking space and then retrieve their vehicle when they want automatically, all using a smartphone.
The pilot project has the capacity to ease difficulties involved in the parking process by automating it, which will save time and effort as well as open up new possibilities for vehicle owners.
The automated valet parking system begins when a user parks his or her vehicle at a designated drop-off area before sending it to be parked using a smartphone app. Once an intelligent system has been installed in a car park, the vehicle is started and guided to an assigned parking space. Sensors installed in the parking garage monitor the driving corridor and its surroundings while steering the vehicle. When ready to retrieve the car, the user can access the app and the car arrives without a driver.
Daimler and Bosch said they tested the system in a parking garage with two vehicles used simultaneously to simulate what would happen when cars enter the garage for parking. Both vehicles were able to successfully navigate to a service area. The companies said this system could be extended to include charging infrastructure, car washing stations, express package pick-up and more.
The companies said that automated valet parking can accommodate up to 20 percent more vehicles than when users park their cars in a parking structure.
