The Anatomy of a Load Bay with Design Considerations

In a fully automated parking garage, there is no wasted time searching for an open parking stall. No need to travel up and down floors. No need to walk across a busy travel lane. No need to enter a stairwell or search for an elevator. You do not waste gasoline in the search or breathe toxic cancercausing particulates of exhaust, brake, or tire tread dust.

An Automated Parking System (APS) consists of one or more Load Bays (vehicle drop-off/pick-up location). These designated areas are also referred to as Transfer Stations or Entrance Bay. Unlike a conventional garage where the entire garage is occupied space in an APS, only the Load Bays are occupied space. They serve two primary functions: (1) Vehicle exchange and (2) User Interface.

Vehicle Exchange
Load Bays are designed to accommodate smooth circular vehicle traffic flow for both entering and exiting the garage. Another design consideration is queuing of vehicles waiting to enter the APS along with ingress and egress to the site. Finally, Load Bays are not restricted to placed at grade. They can be placed on a lower level or above grade. Load Bays can also be bifurcated on the same level or different levels. The number of Load Bays is derived using the Cycle Time Analysis calculation and comparing it to the Peak Hour Demand which is extracted from the site’s traffic study. The Load Bay itself is designed from many factors such as traffic flow, vehicle queuing, ingress and egress to the site, and Lift placement. Load Bay designs are categorized by the number of User Overhead Doors. For example:

Single Door Design – User Entrance/Exit Overhead Door *

Dual Door Design – User Entrance Overhead Door and User Exit Overhead Door**

Dual Door Design – User Entrance/Exit Overhead Door * & System Entrance/Exit Overhead Door

NOTE: When a single User Overhead Door is deployed for Entrance and Exit then a turntable is used to allow a driver to pull forward when entering and allows a driver to pull forward when exiting.

** NOTE: Even in the case where separate Entrance and Exit Overhead Doors are used it may require the use of a Turntable.

User Interface
There are several system options for Load Bays. As a general guideline, it is best to keep every Load Bay identical in functionality which allows for maximum system flexibility and throughput. Below are a few items to consider during the load bay design phase.

ADA
At least one Load Bay should be ADA compliant.
Simple Rule: If one of the AUTOParkit Load Bays is ADA compliant, then all stalls are ADA compliant.
NOTE: The caveat to that rule is the accommodation of an ADA Van.

Wayfinding
As a driver approaches, Wayfinder signage advises which Load Bay to enter. As the car proceeds to the designated Load Bay, an indicator light is illuminated to GREEN. When the driver reaches the overhead door it automatically opens, and the user drives into the Load Bay.

Vehicle
Envelope IoT laser scanners measure the vehicle’s dimensions for height, width, and length. If any of these dimensions are outside the defined Vehicle Envelope the driver is requested to exit the Load Bay. Multiple Height Scanners are used to accommodate levels offering different vehicle height restrictions.

Park Kiosk
The parking process is completed using the AUTOParkit Touchless Mobile App or wall Park Kiosk. The Park kiosk is a collection of devices that allow for user identification, service requests, and questionnaire completion. The Park Kiosk can be either wall-mounted or free-standing.

Unlike using a conventional garage, drivers do not have to be bothered remembering what floor they parked. They do not need to worry about walking up steps or taking elevators. They do not need to locate their parked car on the level. They instruct their mobile device or use a kiosk to retrieve their vehicle. In the Garage Lobby, a screen displays your request in the queue, and this info is duplicated in your mobile device. The screen will alert which load bay your car is arriving and once it has been delivered. Your vehicle is entirely untouched, delivered to a well-illuminated load bay. Only the owner can unlock the Load Bay passage door using the Mobile APP or the load bay kiosk.

The car is facing forward and ready to drive forward to exit the system. The car exits and the exterior door closely. The bay is ready to be reused for either entering or exiting the system.