People-Free Parking

Reported October, 2007

New York, N.Y. -- The latest in parking technology is here -- an automated parking garage. No one is behind the wheel, but a computer software program is responsible for parking cars. And, it's parking in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible.

"It combines elevator equipment with horizontal movement," says Ari Milstein of Automotion Parking Systems in West Hempstead, N.Y.

You pull in and the computer tells you when to stop. Answer a few questions, take a ticket … and leave!

"The car then gets transferred from the elevator here onto a storage retrieval unit," Milistein explains.

The retrieval unit then takes the car, spins it 180 degrees, and places it in its proper cubby hole. This engineering marvel saves space, squeezing 67 cars in this New York City garage where 24 would normally fit. Customers love the lack of service.

"I was very happy to not go through all the hassles of having someone be in my car, touch my car, touch my things, dent my car, etcetera," customer Gary Gribbs says.

While Automotion's Parking Systems' garage is not the first of its kind -- a competitor in New Jersey uses a different method -- the Automotion system is unique in its back-up system to avoid potential problems.h

"It is absolutely dummy proof. Every component has a back-up. Every mistake that can be made has a sensor," Milstein says.

Sensors that rival Fort Knox! So if the car is sticking out for any reason, the machine stops operation. Demand in the United States is stacking up for these people-free parking garages, where customers are happy to not tip ... and drive out without the dings.

There is also an environmental advantage to automated parking. With no idling and moving of cars, there is less pollution.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.

Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:

Meghan Chrisner (Public Affairs Officer
for AutoMotion Parking Systems)
New York, NY 10004
(646) 654-3439
mchrisner@nikecomm.com

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
Inc. IEEE-USA
Washington, DC 20036-5104
(202) 785-0017
http://www.ieee.org
ieeeusa@ieee.org

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