The increasing number vehicles in the recent time has resulted in limited area and space for parking especially in the urban centres and as a result, there has been the development of advanced parking systems that will help reduce the problems associated with limited space for parking including the mechanical car parking system.
The mechanical car parking system is an automated car parking technology that employs a mechanical system that is used to transport and park vehicles on designed multiple levels on a given space thus maximizing the number of cars parked in a given space.
Different types of mechanical car parking systems
•Starker type parking system
This type of car parking system is used in large garages in multi-floor parking space whereby it uses a starker that moves centrally between two parking lots and by use of an automatic system, it will either push or pull the car into and out of the parking space https://crane.pk/automated-vertical-car-parking-system/
•Horizontal circulating parking system
This type of parking system uses a lift that is used to move the cars up and down in a circulating manner in underground parking areas.
•Tower rotary parking system
This parking system uses a rotary motion mechanism which will enable loading and offloading of the cars in the parking system.
•Step starker parking system
This system uses pallets and a lift that will load the cars onto the pallets which are then lifted after parking.
Mechanical car parking systems are divided into two main systems depending on how the parking is done. These are;
1.Automated mechanical car parking system
This is a completely computerized and automated parking system whereby the car is picked up from the entrance point by a mechanical system into the parking in the absence of the driver.
2.Semi-automatic mechanical car parking system
This involves the driver taking up the car to the parking space and a mechanical system is then used to park the car.
Components making up a mechanical car parking system
•Power supply system which is required to run the car parking system.
•Transfer cabin which is the point at which the driver will hand over the car to the parking system.
•A microcontroller which is the main component of a mechanical car parking system as it is the one controlling the whole parking system by monitoring the processes of car entry and exit.
•A displaying system that is used to show the number of cars parked and the amount of empty space left for parking.
•A motor which is used by the mechanical system for carrying the cars either during parking after entry or after parking during the exit time.
•A sensor that uses infra-red rays to detect the available empty parking space and giving the signal to the microcontroller.
•Indicator lights that are used to direct a driver if there is empty space or not by receiving a signal from the sensor system and the microcontroller.
• A conveying system that is used to move the car from the transfer point into the parking space.
Working process of a mechanical car parking system
After arriving at the transfer cabin, the driver will get out of the car where the car dimensions are taken. The driver will then make the parking fee and a receipt is then issued. An electromechanical system will then remove the car from the cabin and transfer it to the parking area by use of the microcontroller, motor and the conveying system where it is parked.
Retrieving the car will involve the use of the ticket received during parking where it is inserted into an automated terminal and the microcontroller will then identify the car, and the electromechanical system will lift the car from the parking area to the transfer cabin where the driver can then obtain it.
Advantages of a mechanical car parking system
•It maximises the use of parking space where many cars are parked in a small area and thus saving the parking space.
•Cars parked are secure and that the theft is limited as the place is highly monitored and retrieving a car requires one to have the parking ticket.
•The systems are automated and thus making it easier and quicker to operate.
•The costs associated with operation and maintenance are minimal and thus making it cheap.
•The system protects the environment from carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere thus eliminating air pollution.
•Movement within the parking area is minimized.