Daimler And Bosch Create Automated Valet Parking

With the help of automotive supplier Bosch, Daimler has just launched a driving parking system at its multi-story car park at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

Those visiting the museum can reserve a car through a dedicated smartphone application, walk to the car park and have the car drive itself to the pick-up area for the start of the journey. When a user wants to return the car, they simply leave it in the drop-off area and with a press of the button through the app, the Mercedes will find its way to a parking space.

The system is made possible through the advanced autonomous driving systems used by Mercedes-Benz as well car park infrastructure from Bosch that incorporates sensors to communicate with the car.

Before the service goes into operation in 2018, Mercedes will undertake an extensive trial and commissioning phase set to be assessed by appraisers from the TÜV Rheinland technical inspection authority.

Discussing the project, head of Automated Driving and Active Safety at Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, Michael Hafner said, “We are approaching autonomous driving faster than many people suspect. The driverless parking solution at the Mercedes-Benz Museum demonstrates in impressive fashion just how far the technology has come.

“Parking will be an automated process in the future. By applying an intelligent multi-storey car park infrastructure and networking it with vehicles, we have managed to realise driverless parking substantially earlier than planned.”