A parking robot includes a lifting rail, a wheel clamp, and a lift motor. The wheel clamp is disposed on the lifting rail and is moveable from a first position to a second position along the lifting rail. The lift motor is operatively connected to the lifting rail and moves the wheel clamp from the first position to the second position.

In some embodiments, a mobile robot unit for engaging a wheel of parked target vehicle is provided, the mobile robot unit comprising: a frame adjustable from a first configuration to a second configuration and vice versa, wherein in the second configuration the frame engages the vehicle wheel to apply a sufficient counterforce onto the vehicle wheel to lift the vehicle wheel and the vehicle weight supported by the vehicle wheel from the ground; and at least two wheel assemblies supporting the frame above the ground, each wheel assembly comprising at least one steerable wheel, the steerable wheel contacting the ground.

In some embodiments, a mobile robot unit for engaging a wheel of parked target vehicle is provided, the mobile robot unit comprising: a frame adjustable from a first configuration to a second configuration and vice versa, wherein in the second configuration the frame engages the vehicle wheel to apply a sufficient counterforce onto the vehicle wheel to lift the vehicle wheel and the vehicle weight supported by the vehicle wheel from the ground; and at least two wheel assemblies supporting the frame above the ground, each wheel assembly comprising at least one steerable wheel, the steerable wheel contacting the ground.

A vehicle conveyor includes a slide member that is provided on each of opposite side faces of a carriage portion, and slides along a longitudinal direction of the carriage portion, independently of the carriage portion. A first arm set and first arm actuators are joined to the slide members, and are configured to slide along the longitudinal direction of the carriage portion, integrally with the slide members, independently of the carriage portion.

In order to provide an automated parking system for vehicles in which a vehicle which is to be parked is parked on a pallet at a transfer station and the pallet is then transferred by a mechanical device and moved to a storage location, and which, on the one hand, is technically simple, and therefore has little susceptibility to faults, and is cost-effective, and on the other hand can make it possible to use existing storage areas as parking space with minor structural modifications and installations, according to the invention multiple pallets are provided which can be stored at storage locations of the parking system at a raised level with respect to the floor of the building in such a way that a low-floor maneuvering vehicle can drive under them. Furthermore, at least one robotically controlled, low-floor maneuvering vehicle is provided for transporting the pallets, the maneuvering vehicle having an omni-directional drive and being equipped with a preferably hydraulic lifting device in order to lift a pallet which has been driven under.

In order to provide an automated parking system for vehicles in which a vehicle which is to be parked is parked on a pallet at a transfer station and the pallet is then transferred by a mechanical device and moved to a storage location, and which, on the one hand, is technically simple, and therefore has little susceptibility to faults, and is cost-effective, and on the other hand can make it possible to use existing storage areas as parking space with minor structural modifications and installations, according to the invention multiple pallets are provided which can be stored at storage locations of the parking system at a raised level with respect to the floor of the building in such a way that a low-floor maneuvering vehicle can drive under them. Furthermore, at least one robotically controlled, low-floor maneuvering vehicle is provided for transporting the pallets, the maneuvering vehicle having an omni-directional drive and being equipped with a preferably hydraulic lifting device in order to lift a pallet which has been driven under.

A method for managing an automatic parking lot involves determining a target space depending on an expected departure date of the vehicle, using a computation including allocating, to a new vehicle entering the lot, a target storage space according to the following rule: selection of spaces corresponding to one of the following criteria: o in the case where a row comprises at least one available proximal space, in front of a vehicle associated with a departure date after the departure date of the entering vehicle, o in the case where a row comprises at least one distal proximal space, positioning in a row the last vehicle of which is associated with a departure date before the departure date of the entering vehicle, allocating the target space to one of the selected spaces—otherwise allocating a space in a temporary storage zone including lanes of consecutive spaces.

A parking robot system for a transportation vehicle having wheels and a method for operating a parking robot system. The parking robot system includes a main robot and secondary robots and a method for operating a parking robot system. The secondary robots each have a pair of wheel support arms and each move up autonomously, with the wheel support arms folded in, from outside next to one of the wheels of the transportation vehicle. The secondary robots each lift up the respective wheel by folding out the respective pair of wheel support arms. The main robot accompanies the secondary robot with the lifted up transportation vehicle during travel to a prescribed target position.

A transport robot includes a body, a CPU assembly configured for mechanical engagement and electrical coupling with the body, a battery assembly configured for mechanical engagement and electrical coupling with the body in electrical communication with the CPU assembly, at least one powered drive assembly configured for mechanical engagement and electrical coupling with the body in electrical communication with at least one of the CPU assembly or the battery assembly, and at least one mechanical operator assembly configured for mechanical engagement with the body and at least one of mechanical or electrical communication therewith. An automated parking system includes a central control system having supervisory control and configured to provide instructions for a task to be accomplished, and a plurality of transport robots, at least one of which is configured to receive the instructions from the central control system and exercise local control to accomplish the task.

A transport robot includes a body, a CPU assembly configured for mechanical engagement and electrical coupling with the body, a battery assembly configured for mechanical engagement and electrical coupling with the body in electrical communication with the CPU assembly, at least one powered drive assembly configured for mechanical engagement and electrical coupling with the body in electrical communication with at least one of the CPU assembly or the battery assembly, and at least one mechanical operator assembly configured for mechanical engagement with the body and at least one of mechanical or electrical communication therewith. An automated parking system includes a central control system having supervisory control and configured to provide instructions for a task to be accomplished, and a plurality of transport robots, at least one of which is configured to receive the instructions from the central control system and exercise local control to accomplish the task.