Components of an Automated Parking System

Automated parking systems are the future of automotive storage. They allow people to drop off their vehicles and conveniently retrieve them later. At the same time, automated parking systems hold cars in arrangements that are more space-efficient than conventional parking lots and garages. While each system is quite complex, you can understand how they work in general by learning about the components of an automated parking system.

Our custom-designed systems are the right car parking solutions for small spaces that can optimize the car parking experience. Our auto parking systems allow drivers to drop off their vehicle and pick it up when they’re ready to leave.

Entrance and User Interface

The entrance is the portion of the automated parking machine that the average person sees. It appears as a lone garage space where an individual can drive in their car, then exit it. There are typically cameras in the entrance that allow the system to recognize the car’s dimensions and a screen that lets drivers know when their cars are properly aligned in the space. The user interface is a simple standing machine located near the entrance; it has a screen that a vehicle owner interacts with to identify themselves and have the system bring their car back out.

Storage and Retrieval Unit

The storage and retrieval unit is a platform that can move in different directions to store the vehicles. The reason a driver must align their car correctly in the entrance is that they are moving it onto the storage and retrieval unit. After they leave their vehicle, the platform will head into the actual storage space of the automatic car parking system. It may have the ability to move up, down, and in various lateral directions to securely stow the cars. As its name suggests, this same unit is also responsible for locating automobiles in the storage space and carrying them to their owner at the entrance. Some systems, namely the Wohr Levelparker, use a rotational design to store and retrieve cars. In this case, each of its spaces is a platform that is capable of shifting positions. And those are just a few of our vehicle parking system components.

Vehicle Storage Space

The vehicle storage space is the component of an automated parking system that is not visible to the people who use it. Since the system moves the vehicles by itself, there is no need for the vehicle owners to enter this area. The storage space can thus have a rack-like arrangement where cars sit compactly on shelves. Driving paths, walking paths, and ramps are obsolete, so more automobiles can fit in the storage space than a parking garage. Different buildings and areas have different requirements for their automatic car parking systems, so Harding Steel offers a range of configurations. The storage space may sit above ground as a tall building or below ground. The number of levels and rows can change based on a client’s needs.