Method and system for automatically parking vehicles

Abstract

An automatic parking system having at least one parking level, the system comprises a plurality of transporters moveable in any direction about the parking level, wherein each transporter is adapted to hold a vehicle thereupon; at least one central computer that is configured to wirelessly direct one of the transporters to move to a desired location to form at least one arrival and/or retrieval circulation path. The system includes a transporter tracking system which tracks the locations of each transporter; and alternatively, at least one lift mechanism which vertically transports the transporter to a desired parking level. The system includes access bays configured to position an arriving vehicle onto and remove an exiting vehicle from the transporter. The system preferably includes storage devices to accept, release and recharge one or more transporters. The system preferably includes entry stations which measure the vehicle dimensions.

1 . An automatic parking system having at least one parking level comprising: 
 a. a plurality of transporters moveable in any direction about the parking level, each transporter adapted to hold a vehicle thereupon; and    b. at least one computer configured to wirelessly direct at least one of the transporters to move to a desired location to form at least one circulation path.    
   
   
       2 . The parking system according to  claim 1  wherein the circulation path is an arrival path.  
   
   
       3 . The parking system according to  claim 1  wherein the circulation path is a retrieval path.  
   
   
       4 . The parking system according to  claim 1  further comprising a transporter tracking system coupled to the computer, wherein the transporter tracking system tracks locations of each transporter.  
   
   
       5 . The parking system according to  claim 1  wherein the computer selects a protocol upon one or more predetermined factors, wherein the protocol is wirelessly transmitted to one or more selected transporters.  
   
   
       6 . The parking system according to  claim 1  wherein each transporter further comprises a plurality of wheel assemblies, wherein each wheel assembly is rotatable to any desired angle with respect to a vertical axis.  
   
   
       7 . The parking system according to  claim 6  wherein each transporter further comprises an onboard computer configured to control operation of each wheel assembly independently of one another.  
   
   
       8 . The parking system according to  claim 7  wherein the onboard computer is configured to ensure that the transporter maintains a projected course.  
   
   
       9 . The parking system according to  claim 6  wherein the operation of the wheel assembly further comprises independently steering each wheel assembly to a desired angle.  
   
   
       10 . The parking system according to  claim 6  wherein the operation of the wheel assembly further comprises independently driving each wheel assembly at a desired speed.  
   
   
       11 . The parking system according to  claim 1  wherein each transporter further comprises an onboard computer configured to control operation of the transporter.  
   
   
       12 . The parking system according to  claim 11  wherein each transporter further comprises a communication system coupled to the onboard computer, wherein the communication system sends and receives signals to the at least one computer.  
   
   
       13 . The parking system according to  claim 1  wherein each transporter further comprises a rechargeable battery for powering one or more components of the transporter.  
   
   
       14 . The parking system according to  claim 1  wherein each transporter further comprises at least one proximity sensor located thereon, the at least one proximity sensor configured to maintain a predetermined distance between the transporter and an external object.  
   
   
       15 . The parking system according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one lifting mechanism for vertically transporting the transporter to a desired parking level, wherein the at least one lifting mechanism is directed to the desired parking level by the computer.  
   
   
       16 . The parking system according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one access bay configured to properly position an arriving vehicle onto the transporter.  
   
   
       17 . The parking system according to  claim 16  wherein the at least one access bay further comprises at least one moveable tire guide.  
   
   
       18 . The parking system according to  claim 16  wherein the at least one access bay further comprises at least one moveable tire stopper.  
   
   
       19 . The parking system according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one access bay configured to properly remove an exiting vehicle from the transporter.  
   
   
       20 . The parking system according to  claim 1  further comprising a storage device configured to store the transporters therein, wherein the storage device is directed to selectively accept and release one or more transporters by the computer.  
   
   
       21 . The parking system according to  claim 20  wherein the storage device further comprises a recharging port configured to recharge a rechargeable battery of the transporter when stored therein.  
   
   
       22 . The parking system according to  claim 1  further comprising one or more entry stations configured to initially receive an arriving vehicle, the one or more entry stations including at least one device for measuring dimensions of the arriving vehicle.  
   
   
       23 . An automatic parking system having at least one parking level, the system comprising: 
 a. a plurality of transporters adapted to hold a vehicle thereupon, each transporter configured to be moveable in any direction about the at least one parking level; and    b. a central computer for wirelessly directing a selected transporter to a designated location.    
   
   
       24 . The parking system according to  claim 23  wherein the designated location at least partially creates a circulation path, wherein the circulation path allows an arriving vehicle and transporter to be stored in a designated parking space.  
   
   
       25 . The parking system according to  claim 23  wherein the designated location at least partially creates a circulation path, wherein the circulation path allows a vehicle and transporter stored in a parking space to be retrieved.  
   
   
       26 . The parking system according to  claim 23  further comprising a transporter tracking system coupled to the central computer, wherein the transporter tracking system tracks locations of each transporter.  
   
   
       27 . The parking system according to  claim 23  wherein the central computer selects a protocol upon one or more predetermined factors, wherein the protocol is wirelessly transmitted to one or more selected transporters.  
   
   
       28 . The parking system according to  claim 23  wherein each transporter further comprises a plurality of wheel assemblies, wherein each wheel assembly is rotatable to any desired angle with respect to a vertical axis.  
   
   
       29 . The parking system according to  claim 23  wherein each transporter further comprises an onboard computer configured to control operation of the transporter.  
   
   
       30 . The parking system according to  claim 29  wherein each transporter further comprises an onboard computer configured to control operation of each wheel assembly independently of one another.  
   
   
       31 . The parking system according to  claim 30  wherein the onboard computer is configured to ensure that the transporter maintains a projected course.  
   
   
       32 . The parking system according to  claim 30  wherein the operation of the wheel assembly further comprises independently steering each wheel assembly to a desired angle.  
   
   
       33 . The parking system according to  claim 30  wherein the operation of the wheel assembly further comprises independently driving each wheel assembly at a desired speed.  
   
   
       34 . The parking system according to  claim 28  wherein each transporter further comprises a communication system coupled to the onboard computer, wherein the communication system sends and receives signals to the central computer.  
   
   
       35 . The parking system according to  claim 23  wherein each transporter further comprises a rechargeable battery for powering one or more components of the transporter.  
   
   
       36 . The parking system according to  claim 23  wherein each transporter further comprises at least one proximity sensor located thereon, the at least one proximity sensor configured to maintain a predetermined distance between the transporter and an external object.  
   
   
       37 . The parking system according to  claim 23  further comprising at least one lifting mechanism for vertically transporting the transporter to a desired parking level, wherein the at least one lifting mechanism is directed to the desired parking level by the computer.  
   
   
       38 . The parking system according to  claim 23  further comprising at least one access bay configured to properly position an arriving vehicle onto the transporter.  
   
   
       39 . The parking system according to  claim 38  wherein the at least one access bay further comprises at least one sensor located therein, the at least one device for measuring dimensions of the arriving vehicle.  
   
   
       40 . The parking system according to  claim 23  further comprising at least one access bay configured to properly remove an exiting vehicle from the transporter.  
   
   
       41 . The parking system according to  claim 23  further comprising a storage device configured to store the transporters therein, wherein the storage device is directed to selectively accept and release one or more transporters by the computer.  
   
   
       42 . The parking system according to  claim 41  wherein the storage device further comprises a recharging port configured to recharge a rechargeable battery of the transporter when stored therein.  
   
   
       43 . The parking system according to  claim 23  further comprising one or more entry stations configured to initially receive an arriving vehicle, the one or more entry stations including at least one device for measuring dimensions of the arriving vehicle.  
   
   
       44 . A transporter adapted to hold a vehicle thereupon and move the vehicle to one or more locations in a parking level, the transporter comprising: 
 a. a body;    b. a plurality of wheel assemblies coupled to the body, wherein each wheel assembly is rotatable to any angle about an axis and configured to move the transporter in any direction; and    c. an onboard computer coupled to the body and configured to control operation of the wheel assemblies.    
   
   
       45 . The transporter according to  claim 44  wherein the transporter further comprises a communication system coupled to the onboard computer, wherein the communication system wirelessly sends and receives signals with a central computer.  
   
   
       46 . The transporter according to  claim 45  wherein the transporter moves to the one or more locations by executing one or more instructions wirelessly received from the central computer.  
   
   
       47 . The transporter according to  claim 45  wherein the transporter wirelessly communicates its position to a transporter tracking system.  
   
   
       48 . The transporter according to  claim 44  wherein each wheel assembly is configured to be set at any angle in a 360 degree rotation with respect to the axis.  
   
   
       49 . The transporter according to  claim 44  wherein each wheel assembly is independently operable by the onboard computer.  
   
   
       50 . The transporter according to  claim 44  wherein each wheel assembly is independently steerable by the onboard computer.  
   
   
       51 . The transporter according to  claim 44  wherein each wheel assembly is independently driveable by the onboard computer.  
   
   
       52 . The transporter according to  claim 44  wherein each transporter further comprises a rechargeable battery for powering one or more components of the transporters, the rechargeable battery coupled to a recharging port.  
   
   
       53 . The transporter according to  claim 44  wherein each transporter further comprises at least one proximity sensor located thereon, the at least one proximity sensor configured to maintain a predetermined distance between the transporter and an external object.  
   
   
       54 . The transporter according to  claim 44  wherein the onboard computer is configured to ensure that the transporter maintains a projected course.  
   
   
       55 . A method of automatically moving a vehicle to or from a parking space comprising: 
 a. selecting a protocol depending on at least one predetermined factor; and    b. transmitting instruction relating to the protocol to an omni-directional transporter, wherein the transporter executes the instruction and to move to a designated location in compliance with the selected protocol.    
   
   
       56 . The method according to  claim 55  wherein the transporter moving to the designated location at least partially creates a circulation path, wherein the circulation path allows the vehicle to be stored in the parking space.  
   
   
       57 . The method according to  claim 55  wherein the transporter moving to the designated location at least partially creates a circulation path, wherein the circulation path allows a vehicle and transporter stored in the parking space to be retrieved.  
   
   
       58 . The method according to  claim 55  further comprising tracking movement of the transporter in the garage, wherein the movement of the transporter is compared to the protocol.  
   
   
       59 . The method according to  claim 55  further comprising ensuring movement of the transporter is in compliance with a projected course associated with the protocol.  
   
   
       60 . The method according to  claim 55  further comprising transmitting instruction relating to the protocol to a lift mechanism, wherein the lift mechanism is an intermediate designated location and is configured to vertically transport the transporter to the designated location.  
   
   
       61 . The method according to  claim 55  further comprising transmitting instruction relating to the protocol to a storage mechanism, the storage mechanism being the designated location and configured to store the transporter.  
   
   
       62 . The method according to  claim 55  further comprising transmitting instruction relating to the protocol to an access bay, the access bay being the designated location and configured to receive the transporter.  
   
   
       63 . An automatic parking system having at least one parking level, the system comprising: 
 a. means for transporting a vehicle, wherein the means for transporting adapted to hold a vehicle thereupon, the means for transporting configured to be moveable in any direction along the at least one parking level; and    b. means for directing the means for transporting to a designated location to create a circulation path.    
   
   
       64 . A parking system configured to selectively store or retrieve a vehicle on a parking level, the parking system comprising: 
 a. a central computer configured to select a parking space for the vehicle, wherein the central computer wireless transmits a protocol for storing the vehicle in the parking space; and    b. a transporter further comprising: 
 i. a body adapted to hold the vehicle thereupon;  
 ii. a plurality of wheel assemblies coupled to the body and rotatable about an axis to any angle, wherein the wheel assemblies allow the transporter to move in any direction on the parking level;  
 iii. an onboard computer coupled to the wheel assemblies and configured to operate the wheel assemblies; and  
 iv. a communication system configured to wirelessly receive the protocol from the central computer, wherein the onboard computer executes the received protocol to move the transporter to the parking space.  
   
   
   
       65 . An automatic parking system having at least one parking level and a plurality of vehicle transporting devices configured to carry a vehicle in any desired direction on the parking level, the system comprising a central computer for selecting one or more dynamic circulation paths and instructing one or more vehicle transporting devices in the plurality to move in one or more desired directions to establish the one or more dynamic circulation paths.