French start-up Stanley Robotics has deployed the country’s first automated valet parking service at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, which makes use of a fully-autonomous vehicle to deliver cars to a vacant space.
Stanley Robotics’ three founders have backgrounds in the automobile industry and research into self-driving vehicles at top French research institutes, and have taken their autonomous vehicle expertise to develop a service that is designed to make parking easier for travelers, while optimizing car park capacities and revenue.
Having reserved a parking space through a smartphone app, users drive up to a designated spot and walk away, taking their keys with them, as the service does not require access to the vehicle. The autonomous car-carrying vehicle, known as ‘Stan’, drives up to the front of the car that needs parking and scans it to establish its proportions, so that it can be placed in an appropriately-sized space. Stan then picks up the car by its wheels, and transports it to a vacant space. When travelers return from their trip, the car will be waiting for them in the drop-off spot, as the booking management system software will connect with the customer’s flight details.
As the electrically-powered vehicles and parking system are emissions-free, facilities no longer require exhaust removal fans. Existing parking structures can be easily modified for the technology, and expensive lighting or parking guidance systems along with ground markings can be removed, as humans are no longer present in the parking area. Because people are not involved, there is no need to leave room between cars for opening doors, providing space for up to 50% more cars in an existing garage, with a resultant increase in revenue for parking operators. Each of the transporters can manage up to 400 spaces, and Stanley Robotics says they will each be able to move between 20-30,000 cars per year.
“The automated valet service guarantees travelers improved time management,” commented Edward Arkwright, CEO for the airport’s operator, the ADP Group. “This new service is the direct result of us working together with start-ups, Stanley Robotics being one of them.”
Clément Boussard, CEO of Stanley Robotics, said, “We are very happy with this collaboration with the ADP Group. The project is first and foremost a success for the users who love this new service! For us, it is the start of a great adventure: revolutionizing the car park experience the world over.”
