Automated Valet Parking (AVP) offers drivers and passengers an autonomous and driverless parking experience.
What is automatic valet parking?
In a drop-off zone, the driver leaves the car and the car takes over the duties of a valet, including autonomously finding a parking space. The car is maneuvering into and out of the parking space – and can also drive back to a pick-up area to return the car to the driver.
To optimize the use of parking time, additional services such as autonomous charging or autonomous washing can be implemented. Such functionalities provide real customers with benefits in terms of convenience and safety.
VIDEO: BMW and Valeo Level 4 automatic valet parking
According to the draft of a future ISO standard, automatic valet parking solutions will be grouped into two main categories, type 1 and type 2 systems.
For a Type 1 system, the required technologies (including all sensors, computing units and algorithms) run on the vehicle, while for a Type 2 system,. the required technologies (including sensors and the AVP management system) are installed in the relevant infrastructure – i.e. the parking facility, and the car is controlled by the infrastructure. The partnership supports both Type 1 and Type 2 AVPs.
Developed independently in collaboration with Valeo, the BMW Group now uses an AVP Type 2 solution at the Dingolfing plant to autonomously control the 7 Series and i7 cars as they leave the production line.
BMW and Valeo will jointly develop the Level 4 automatic parking experience
The BMW Group and Valeo have announced their cooperation for the joint development of autonomous parking technologies up to Level 4.
In January, both companies signed an agreement for strategic cooperation, which will focus on the joint development of the high-end user experience for the next generation of parking on private land and parking lots.
From automatic maneuvering assistance to Level 4 automatic valet parking, all functions will be based on in-car technology and sensors. Infrastructure-based services will also be jointly developed to experience autonomous parking and charging in parking lots and public spaces.
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The software functions are based on the current automatic parking software package, first launched with the BMW iX in 2021. In the next generation, it will be further expanded by a powerful computing platform that uses jointly developed algorithms.