Automated vehicle parking system

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an automated vehicle parking system ( 100 ). The automated vehicle parking system includes at least one parking facility structure ( 102 a, 102 b ) including a plurality of vehicle storage cells ( 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, 104 d ), a vehicle entrance/exit arrangement ( 200 ), and a vehicle transporting mechanism ( 108 ). The vehicle transporting mechanism is spatially disposed adjacently to the vehicle storage cells for delivering and retrieving one or more vehicles ( 106 ) in respect of the vehicle storage cells. The vehicle transporting mechanism is operable to lift up and/or lower down the one or more vehicles, and to move them laterally by way of supporting the one or more vehicles on corresponding one or more platforms ( 314 a, 314 b, 314 c ) which are moveable laterally relative to the vehicle transporting mechanism ( 108 ).

1 . An automated vehicle parking system, comprising:
 a parking facility structure including a plurality of vehicle storage cells arranged in one more columns;   a vehicle entrance/exit arrangement; and   a vehicle transporting mechanism for transporting one or more vehicles between the entrance/exit arrangement and the plurality of vehicle storage cells in the parking facility structure, wherein:   the vehicle transporting mechanism is spatially disposed adjacently to the one or more columns for delivering and retrieving the one or more vehicles to and from the vehicle storage cells;   wherein the vehicle transporting mechanism comprises:
 a first platform that is configured to move horizontally in a bi-directional manner from a front to a rear of the parking facility structure; 
 a second platform disposed below the first platform that is configured to move horizontally in a bi-directional manner from one side to an other side of the parking facility structure; and 
 a third platform that is disposed below the second platform that is configured to move vertically in a bi-directional manner from a bottom to a roof portion of the parking facility structure; and 
   wherein the vehicle transporting mechanism is configured to deliver a vehicle positioned on a top of the first platform to a vehicle storage cell by lifting up and/or lowering down the third platform, moving the second platform laterally relative to the third platform and moving the first platform laterally and perpendicularly relative to the first and second platform to deliver the vehicle to the vehicle storage cell.   
     
     
         2 . The automated vehicle parking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle transporting mechanism comprises one or more elevator motors disposed in the roof portion of the parking facility structure. 
     
     
         3 . The automated vehicle parking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle transporting mechanism is configured to move the vehicle in a x-y-z Cartesian coordinate system within a volume of the parking facility structure. 
     
     
         4 . The automated vehicle parking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle transporting mechanism comprises one or more winches for lifting up and/or lowering down the third platform relative to the plurality of storage cells, wherein the winches are connected outside of the third platform in a manner enabling the second platform to move laterally. 
     
     
         5 . The automated vehicle parking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the parking facility structure comprises:
 an arrangement of vertical structures coupled to horizontal structures to create the plurality of vehicle storage cells; and   the vehicle transport mechanism comprise cables supporting the third platform, the cables being positioned on outer sides of the third platform and the second platform structure and between adjacent rails connected to the vertical structures.   
     
     
         6 . The automated vehicle parking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle entrance/exit arrangement includes a plurality of exits/entrances through which vehicles are delivered and/or retrieved, wherein the plurality of exits/entrances are provided with one or more user interfaces for users to input data to a control system managing operation of the vehicle transporting mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic vehicle parking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the parking facility structure is constructed in a modular manner from a plurality of mutually coupled elongate metal members disposed in substantially vertical and horizontal orientations. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic vehicle parking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle transporting mechanism is operable to employ one or more sets of rails to guide platforms bearing the one or more vehicles when moved laterally between the vehicle transporting mechanism and the plurality of vehicle storage cells. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic vehicle parking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle transporting mechanism is operable to redistribute the one or more vehicles between the vehicle storage cells within the parking facility structure so that the one or more vehicles are more rapidly accessible when they are required to be delivered to the entrance/exit arrangement for collection thereat. 
     
     
         10 . The automated vehicle parking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein redistribution of the one or more vehicles is executed based upon user-entered information indicative of one or more estimated times of collection of the one or more vehicles. 
     
     
         11 . The automated vehicle parking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein redistribution of the one or more vehicles is executed based upon a predictive model provided with identification information for identifying the one or more vehicles. 
     
     
         12 . The automated vehicle parking system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein redistribution of the one or more vehicles is executed for reducing a waiting time experienced by one or more users when retrieving one or more vehicles from the system. 
     
     
         13 . A method of constructing an automated vehicle parking system, including at least one parking facility structure including a plurality of vehicle storage cells, a vehicle entrance/exit arrangement, and a vehicle transporting mechanism for transporting in operation one or more vehicles between the entrance/exit arrangement and the at least one parking facility, wherein the method includes:
 disposing the plurality of vehicle storage cells in one or more columns: and   spatially disposing the vehicle transporting mechanism adjacently to the one or more columns for delivering and retrieving one or more vehicles in respect of the vehicle storage cells, wherein the vehicle transporting mechanism is operable to lift up and/or lower down the one or more vehicles, and to move them laterally by way of supporting the one or more vehicles on corresponding one or more platforms which are moveable laterally relative to the vehicle transporting mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the method includes providing the vehicle transporting mechanism with one or more elevator motors disposed in a roof portion of the automated parking system. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the method includes arranging for the vehicle transporting mechanism to move the one or more vehicles in a x-y-z Cartesian coordinate system within a volume of the automated parking system. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the method includes arranging a first platform that is configured to move horizontally in a bi-directional manner from a front to a rear of the parking facility structure;
 a second platform disposed below the first platform that is configured to move horizontally in a bi-directional manner from one side to an other side of the parking facility structure; and   a third platform that is disposed below the second platform that is configured to move vertically in a bi-directional manner from a bottom to a roof portion of the parking facility structure; and   
       arranging for the vehicle transporting mechanism to employ one or more winches for lifting up and/or lowering down the one or more vehicles relative to the plurality of storage cells wherein the winches are connected outside of the third platform in a manner enabling the second platform to move laterally. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the method includes providing support to the third platform with cables, which are positioned outside of the third platform and the second platform and between adjacent rails connected to vertical structures. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the method includes providing the vehicle entrance/exit arrangement with a plurality of exits/entrances through which vehicles are delivered and/or retrieved, wherein the plurality of exits/entrances are provided with one or more user interfaces for users to input data to a control system managing operation of the vehicle transporting mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the method includes constructing the parking facility structure in a modular manner from a plurality of mutually coupled elongate metal members disposed in substantially vertical and horizontal orientations. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in any one of  claim 13 , wherein the method includes providing the vehicle transporting mechanism with one or more sets of rails to guide platforms bearing the one or more vehicles when moved laterally between the vehicle transporting mechanism and the plurality of vehicle storage cells. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein method includes arranging for the vehicle transporting mechanism to redistribute the one or more vehicles between the storage cells within the at least one parking facility structure so that the one or more vehicles are more rapidly accessible when they are required to be delivered to the entrance/exit arrangement for collection thereat. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the method includes arranging for redistribution of the one or more vehicles to be executed based upon user-entered information indicative of one or more estimated times of collection of the one or more vehicles. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the method includes arranging for redistribution of the one or more vehicles to be executed based upon a predictive model provided with identification information for identifying the one or more vehicles. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the method includes arranging for redistribution of the one or more vehicles to be executed for reducing a waiting time experienced by one or more users when retrieving one or more vehicles from the system.