Electronic valet parks the car, no tip
required
There is no one inside the Range Rover in a Las Vegas
The self-parking is directed by an app which controls the vehicle,
detects an available space and maneuvers into it.
The "automated parking valet" created by the French
equipment maker Valeo is among the technology innovations for the sector on
display at this week's Consumer Electronics Show.
While the idea of a fully autonomous car is a dream for some, this
is a step which promises to alleviate at least some of the tedium facing
motorists.
The system allows drivers to leave their car at the entrance of a
parking lot and let it find a space to park itself. Drivers activate the
feature from their smartphone, and can also use it to summon the car to pick
them up.
The system does not require garages or parking lots to have
special equipment. It relies on the kinds of sensors some
cars already use, with some extra electronics.
The system may require a camera to recognize and avoid spaces
designated for the handicapped or unusual features in a garage.
The system was
designed to be as simple as possible, so that it would not be only for luxury
vehicles.
Parking maneuvers, experts say, are the most difficult for
motorists.
Valeo said three million cars already have its semi-automatic
system, which can perform parallel parking but require the driver to remain at
the wheel.
