Ford And Bosch Working On Automated Parking Technology

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• Using infrastructure-based sensors, vehicles can easily self-park.

• This technology is for those who like driving, but not parking.

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This project, which involves Ford, Bosch, and Bedrock’s Assembly Garage in Detroit, will be the first in the country relying on an infrastructure-based solution for automated valet parking.

Michigan, and Ford, are pushing hard to push Michigan to the forefront of mobility technology. This research project will take place in the Corktown neighborhood, the site of Ford’s new mobility innovation district, anchored by Michigan Central Station. More specifically, the tests will be done on the ground floor of Bedrock’s Assembly Garage, the real estate developer’s first residential redevelopment project in the Corktown neighborhood. The goal of the study is to gain valuable insights with respect to user experience, vehicle design, parking structure design, and application.

“We are continually searching for opportunities to expand our leading suite of Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assist technologies that help people drive more confidently and we believe automated valet parking technology holds great promise,” said Ken Washington, chief technology officer at Ford Motor Company. “Our work with Bosch and Bedrock also aligns with our vision for the future, which includes increasingly automated vehicles that are more aware of their surroundings while requiring less on-board computing to help improve design, packaging, and affordability.”

One of the overlooked advantages to the technology is the efficient use of space. Automated parking solutions enable the possibility of accommodating 20% more vehicles in the same space. As well, this same technology provides the possibility for self-charging or a car wash within the same building.

The technology can be retrofitted to an existing structure or embedded into new construction.