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Autonomous Valet Parking or AVP is a robotic system that automatically parks vehicles without a driver. It parks cars using signals and sensors built inside a smart parking garage and a mobile application installed on the customer’s phone.

Courtesy: Bosch

With this system in place, drivers can bid adieu to the stress associated with scouting a vacant parking bay inside a lot and driving to it. This technology also encourages parking lots to become smaller, thus reducing the construction and maintenance costs for lot owners.

How do you park inside an AVP parking lot?

To access autonomous parking, a driver enters a designated common drop-off area or box. This is as far as they go to park their vehicle. Proper signage informs the driver of the spot where they must bring their car.

Once the car reaches the designated place, a robotic system, usually enabled with sensory cameras, scans it for dimension. Based on the size, it designates the smallest vacant parking bay available.

The driver turns off the engine and the passengers exit the vehicle. Depending on the payment system installed in the parking garage, they either head towards a parking ticket kiosk or use a pre-installed app to start their parking session.

The sensors now determine if everyone has exited the lot – this is for safety purposes. Once they confirm that the lot is empty, the outer parking box doors automatically close, and the autonomous valet parking system is engaged. This system physically lifts the platform the vehicle is parked on and places it inside a parking bay. The vehicle will remain parked until its owner comes back.

Also Read: How Automated Valet Parking Works

Un-parking in an autonomous valet parking lot

Collecting your vehicle from an autonomous valet parking is just as easy as parking it. The driver typically puts their ticket inside a parking machine or kiosk or pays through an app. Once the payment is complete, they head to a common exit lobby.

This is where the autonomous valet system will deliver the vehicle by bringing it down automatically. After which, the gate to the parking box opens and the vehicle is returned to the driver.

Summing up

Autonomous valet parking is an excellent smart parking solution as it optimizes space usage. With this system in place, lot owners don’t require a large size parking lot – simply because vehicles are vertically carried and stacked.

They also need only half the workforce to run operations inside such a lot, as minimal surveillance is needed. Add to it, drivers pay online or through a kiosk, further reducing the need for a worker to physically collect payments.

Not only is this system cost-effective in the long run, but it also offers seamless and quick service to customers who simply drop off and pick up their cars rather than driving around looking for space.