AutoValet: Problem Description

We have developed a platform-independent software stack that enables driverless cars to autonomously search a crowded indoor parking garage for a free spot and park itself in that spot. We have made it model-independent and easy to interface with existing autonomous vehicles. Our advisors include Prof. John Dolan (CMU), Dr. Dimitrios Apostolopolous (NREC).

Our team proposed a parking solution that can operate in the absence of any custom infrastructure. Our system will provide an autonomous car the ability to enter a previously unexplored parking garage, navigate safely through the garage until an empty parking spot is found, and park itself.  In the background, the system will be creating an accurate map of the environment that can be used by building managers, future cars entering the garage, etc. This system would alleviate many hassles associated with parking and integrate the functionality into pre-existing self-driving car technologies.