The solution was embedded in several vehicles to showcase a commercially viable automated valet parking platform, with the prototype vehicles proving capable of automated valet parking in multiple predetermined parking garages in Budapest.
AImotive’s aiDrive software stack provided the vehicles’ automated driving capabilities, while HERE Technologies delivered detailed indoor maps of parking infrastructures. Vodafone provided Narrowband-IoT technology that supported the system to communicate free space information to the vehicle.
Maps, including free space information, were downloaded via Vodafone’s mobile network at the entrance of the parking garages. The vehicles drive based on parking sensor detections and feature maps to dynamically adapt its trajectory to changing conditions.
“Automated valet parking gives drivers the comfort of not having to waste time finding parking spaces, and also increases the number of vehicles that fit into existing parking infrastructure,” commented Peter Kovács, Chief Product Officer at AImotive. “Creating a scalable solution to this automated driving challenge is a vital step on the road to increasing driving automation.”
István Király, Vodafone Business Unit Director at Vodafone Hungary, added, “There are countless benefits of wireless connectivity in the automotive industry, and this form of valet parking is only one example. After many successful outdoor smart parking pilots, this project will help us test the capability of our NB-IoT solutions in underground garages and gain essential experience with the transportation of the future by the time 5G technology arrives.”
The technology was designed to illustrate a scalable and robust platform that could be licensed by automotive Tier 1s and OEMs.