Automated Parking System

An automatic parking system parks vehicles using the conveyor system, a vertically and / or horizontally. One can distinguish between semi-automatic and fully automatic systems here.

• Semi-automatic systems are equipped with a dead man's switch, since the user is inside the system. The user must control the parking process by means of continuous button press. Examples of semi-automatic systems are double parking or lifting systems, Verschiebehubsysteme, driver record systems and simple hub systems.

• Fully automatic systems do not provide access to the interior of the parking system. Mentioned the case of such, even parking deck, systems borrowed operating principle and control logic automated high-bay warehouse systems. The vehicles will be driven in a driveway area on a movable platform Park, the driver receives a receipt for his vehicle, which he can later pick back up. The parking platform or pallet is then with the aid of displacement units and / or Hubkränen automated by the system set down in a free parking area.

Types of automated parking systems

In 1937, the first park Paternoster was built in Chicago. The system provided up to 22 vehicles space. In such paternoster or circulation systems, the vehicles circulate until the desired vehicle in the entry and exit is ready. Today such systems are especially prevalent in Japan since the small footprint required favorable to the lack of space in Japanese cities. On an area of ​​only four normal parking bays, such a park tower with a height of about 50 meters have a capacity for up to 100 cars.

A horizontal variant called Umsetzsysteme. On each parking level of a parking space is kept free. The system then moves the parking pallets until the requested vehicle is available.

At Park shelving systems, there are different versions as with most fully automated systems. For radial systems have a circular plan. In the middle is a rotary conveyor that transports the vehicle vertically by means of a crane or lifting device in the free parking stall.

Alleys systems have a rectangular floor plan. Use fixed shelves and a shuttle unit that moves vertically the vehicle within an intervening alley horizontally and with the help of a crane. At the level of the corresponding Parkbox the pallet is pushed to the vehicle in the shelf.

A combination of fixed and sliding shelves uses a special parking system in Dresden. Here come as in the streets system fixed shelves for use. However, the lane is not entirely free of cars. The space of the driving lane is utilized to the maximum by sliding hanging shelves. These hanging shelves are a parking unit shorter than the fixed shelves. Thus, the system enables the mobility of the transfer unit. Thus, it ensures the fastest access times to the respective vehicle or the particular parking box. The transfer unit can transport and store vehicles vertically or horizontally. The system is currently the largest public -automatic parking system in Germany.

Advantages and disadvantages of fully automated parking systems in comparison with conventional parking solutions

Main advantage of parking rack systems is the very low required development area in relation to parking area - necessary areas for entry and exit, climb and descent, for parking and pedestrian can be omitted, only remains the base area required for the conveyor. In cylindrical Park shelving systems this is particularly low, even lower, however, at the paternoster systems. In addition, in the parking area no lighting and air conditioning is required, park shelving systems can also be very well built underground, without incurring occurring in underground car parks, but also normal car parks anxiety rooms.

In addition, the fact that only the area to submit and to accept the vehicles is accessible at ground level, automated parking deck solutions for disabled people and very safe. Also, the risk of attacks and damage is less. The odor of the park ends is lower, due to the elimination of parking search traffic and parking operations, the production of exhaust gases is lower ( at 780 parking spaces up to 35 % less CO2, 44 % less benzene ).

Parking racks are often used as a design element in the context of the city, such as the well-known smart- towers, in which, however, less the parking function is available as the function as prominent exhibition space in the foreground. Or the car towers at the Autostadt Wolfsburg, widely visible dominate the terrain.

Disadvantages of existing parking racks are the high costs with relatively long cycle times per vehicle. The next vehicle may only be issued when the feed carriage has sorted the pallet with the preceding vehicle and again at the entrance area. The same applies to the pick up of vehicles. The long delivery times can be reduced if multiple parallel conveyor systems are built, allowing multiple entries and exits are possible. Correspondingly higher but are the costs for materials handling equipment and complex control logic. Recent Parking towers have double conveyor systems. Instead of pallet conveyors or robots are increasingly being used, which take the car to the tire. Thus, the vehicles can be incorporated selectively into appropriate spaces on the basis of their size, which means a lot of space is saved.

Current situation

Automatic parking systems are gaining importance. One sees in them a chance to realize parking solutions in a small space, and thus to prevent the decentralization of the inner cities. Fully automatic neighborhood garages could relieve parking in residential areas.

In Japan, automatic car parks - especially the Paternoster version - to find since the 1980s.

In Zurich 2001, it was opened "first" fully automated parking garage of Switzerland at the Hall Street in the Seefeld district. Due to technical problems ( the parking in and out of vehicles took much longer than planned, occasionally vehicles were not released) however, it was only six weeks in operation. End of 2010, the Zurich city decided to abandon the car park.

In Basel, the first fully automated car park in Europe was opened near the Heuwaage on 10 May 1958. The parking garage was closed in 1970 for reasons of profitability again.

In Schaffhausen is currently the only public automatic car park of Switzerland in operation, the City Parking Schaffhausen. This was created only as a semi-automatic system and converted into a fully automatic parking garage in 2006.