System and method for parking vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle parking system that includes a vertical movement entity, a multiple storey structure whereas at least one storey defines multiple vehicle parking spaces as well as a vertical movement space through which the vertical movement entity moves, and a controller adapted to control at least sideway movements of multiple parking platforms within the structure. A parking platform that includes multiple platform translators adapted to perform sideway translation as well as straight translation, a platform controller adapted to receive platform movement instructions and in response to control a movement of the vehicle translators such as to translate the parking platform within multiple vehicle parking spaces defined in a multiple storey structure; whereas the parking platform is adapted to support a vehicle. A method for parking a vehicle, the method includes: determining a destination of a parking platform; controlling vertical movements and horizontal movement of the parking platform within a vertical movement space and multiple vehicle parking spaced defined within a multiple storey structure; the controlling comprises controlling sideway movements of the parking platform.

1 . A vehicle parking system, comprising: 
 a vertical movement entity;    a multiple storey structure whereas at least one storey defines multiple vehicle parking spaces as well as a vertical movement space through which the vertical movement entity moves; and    a controller adapted to control at least sideway movements of multiple parking platforms within the structure.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1  whereas each parking platform comprises multiple independently controlled platform translators and whereas the controller is adapted to control a movement of each of the independently controlled platform translators.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1  whereas the structure further comprises at least one charging terminal for charging at least one parking platform.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1  whereas the vertical movement entity is shaped such as to support multiple parking platforms.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 1  whereas an area of a vehicle parking space is slightly bigger than a size of a parking platform.  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1  whereas an area of a storey adapted to support K vehicles substantially equals a vertical movement area and K vehicle parking areas.  
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 1  whereas the controller wirelessly controls the movements of the multiple parking platforms.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising an interface for receiving requests for parking a vehicle within the structure.  
   
   
       9 . A parking platform comprising: 
 multiple platform translators adapted to perform sideway translation as well as straight translation;    a platform controller adapted to receive platform movement instructions and in response to control a movement of the vehicle translators such as to translate the parking platform within multiple vehicle parking spaces; whereas the parking platform is adapted to support a vehicle.    
   
   
       10 . The parking platform according to  claim 9  further comprising at least one proximity sensor adapted to estimate a proximity of the parking platform to foreign objects.  
   
   
       11 . The parking platform according to  claim 9  further comprising a rechargeable battery and a recharge interface.  
   
   
       12 . The parking platform according to  claim 9  whereas the platform comprises an upper surface and whereas the platform controller is positioned below the surface.  
   
   
       13 . The parking platform according to  claim 9  further comprising a communication unit adapted to receive instructions from a controller.  
   
   
       14 . A method for parking a vehicle, the method comprising: 
 determining a destination of a parking platform;    controlling vertical movements and horizontal movement of the parking platform within a vertical movement space and multiple vehicle parking spaces defined within a structure; the controlling comprises controlling sideway movements of the parking platform.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14  whereas the controlling comprises controlling movements of each of independently controlled platform translators of multiple parking platforms.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14  whereas further comprising charging at least one parking platform.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 14  whereas the controlling comprises controlling movements of multiple parking platforms within multiple vehicle parking spaces that are characterized by a vehicle parking area that is slightly bigger than an area of a parking platform.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 14  whereas the controlling comprises wirelessly transmitting signals from a controller to the multiple parking platforms.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 14  whereas the determining is preceded by a stage of receiving requests for parking a vehicle within the structure.