Configurable Parking Bays for Faster Vehicle Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional parking systems face limitations in increasing vehicle density due to human overhead and automobile steering dynamics, leading to increased retrieval times and costs associated with mechanical systems.
Innovation Solution
A parking system utilizing automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and configurable bays, where bays are optimized into insert-ready or retrieve-ready states based on collected data, allowing efficient vehicle storage and retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If human valets are hired to manually park vehicles in tight configurations, then vehicle density can be increased, but operational costs and time consumption increase due to human overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automated guided vehicles that autonomously navigate and position vehicles in tight configurations without human intervention. The AGVs independently perform parking and retrieval operations, eliminating the need for human valets while maintaining high vehicle density and reducing retrieval times through optimized navigation algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual valet operations with an automated guided vehicle system. The AGVs use sensors, controllers, and automated navigation to perform functions previously requiring human physical intervention, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing operational costs while maintaining high vehicle density
2Quantity of substance
If mechanical parking systems such as stackers or rack and rail systems are installed, then vehicle density can be increased, but upfront costs and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical parking systems like stackers and rack and rail with a software-controlled automated guided vehicle system. The AGVs use navigation algorithms, sensors, and centralized control to achieve high vehicle density without requiring expensive mechanical infrastructure, thereby reducing both upfront costs and system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic, flexible AGV navigation rather than fixed mechanical structures. The automated guided vehicles can adapt their paths and positioning in real-time based on system state and requirements, providing the same vehicle density as rigid mechanical systems but with greater flexibility and lower complexity
3Quantity of substance
If vehicles are parked in tight configurations, then parking capacity increases, but retrieval time increases due to additional vehicle movements required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning vehicles during the parking process to optimize future retrieval operations. The AGVs arrange vehicles in configurations that minimize subsequent movement requirements, and the centralized controller plans retrieval sequences in advance, thereby enabling tight parking configurations without increasing retrieval time
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time feedback from sensors and vehicle status data to dynamically adjust parking and retrieval operations. The centralized controller monitors the positions of all vehicles and AGVs, optimizing retrieval sequences based on current system state, which allows tight configurations to be maintained while minimizing retrieval time through adaptive decision-making
Data Source
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AI summary
A parking system including a plurality of trays, a plurality of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) configured to transport the plurality of trays, a plurality of bays, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a bay configuration ratio based on collected parking data, each bay being configured into one of an insert-ready state and a retrieve-ready state in accordance with the bay configuration ratio. When a bay is in the insert-ready state, a tray is placed within the bay and an outward-facing door of the bay is in an open position. When a bay is in the retrieve-ready state, the outward-facing door of the bay is in a closed position, an inward-facing door of the bay is in an open position, and no tray is positioned within the bay.