Checkerboard Parking Layout With Overhead Transport Robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flat parking lots are inefficient in utilizing land space due to the presence of driveways, which occupy valuable land resources and reduce the number of vehicles that can be parked in the same area.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent vehicle transport robot that marks parking lines in a checkerboard shape and removes driveways by moving vehicles to a space above a parked vehicle, using a position marker and sensing sensors for navigation, and includes a lifting unit to load and move vehicles, enhancing parking efficiency by increasing the number of vehicles that can be parked in the same area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If driveways are provided for vehicle movement in a conventional flat parking lot, then vehicles can access parking units, but valuable land resources are occupied and parking efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension by stacking parking levels. The first and second parking lots are arranged vertically, allowing vehicles to access different levels via elevators or escalators. This eliminates the need for horizontal driveways within each parking level, as vehicles can be transported vertically between levels, thereby maximizing the parking area on each level while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary transportation system (elevator or escalator) to connect the first and second parking lots. This intermediary device enables vehicle movement between levels without requiring driveways within the parking levels themselves, thus preserving parking space while ensuring accessibility.
2Productivity
If parking units are arranged in a conventional flat layout with driveways, then vehicles can move freely, but the number of parking vehicles per area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging parking lots in vertical layers (first and second parking lots at different heights), the patent increases the quantity of parking vehicles per unit area. Each level can be densely packed with parking units since vertical circulation replaces horizontal movement, effectively doubling or tripling the parking capacity within the same ground footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the parking system into separate vertical segments (first parking lot and second parking lot). Each segment can be independently optimized for parking density, and the segmentation allows for efficient use of space by eliminating the need for continuous driveway networks across the entire parking area.
3Area of stationary object
If a vehicle transport robot moves vehicles to spaces above parked vehicles, then parking density increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle transport robot is designed to perform multiple functions: it transports vehicles between different parking levels, positions vehicles within parking units, and manages parking space optimization. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each task, thereby managing device complexity while achieving high parking density.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle transport robot operates autonomously to move and position vehicles without human intervention. The robot navigates, lifts, and places vehicles independently, reducing the need for complex manual control systems and infrastructure, thus managing complexity while maximizing parking area utilization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The vehicle transport robot increases parking efficiency by allowing more vehicles to be parked in the same area by eliminating the need for driveways, while ensuring safe and efficient parking and exit operations through its navigation and lifting capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the position marker is a reflective material reflecting light or a metal material reacting to electricity, and the sensing sensor is an optical sensor for sensing the position marker through a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention can provide an intelligent vehicle transport robot for a single-level parking lot, wherein: parking lines for indicating parking locations of respective vehicles are marked on a parking lot formed at a single level; the parking lines are marked in a checkerboard pattern so as to exclude drive aisles for vehicle movements and thus increase the number of vehicles that can be accommodated in parking spaces; and a vehicle transport robot (10) is provided in the parking lot, which performs vehicle parking and retrieval by moving a vehicle above parked vehicles, whereby due to exclusion of drive aisles, the number of vehicles that can be accommodated in parking spaces is increased as compared to a conventional parking lot having the same area, and thus the parking efficiency of the parking lot can be improved.