10 References and Nomenclature

10.1  References And Literature (click on underlined links)

10.2 Nomenclature

Automated Parking: All the steps necessary to initiate, perform and control the process of vehicle storage or retrieval utilizing a multiple of machines with vertical and horizontal transport capability operated via software commands to the different machines. No human intervention needed.

APF : Automated Parking Facility

AVI : Automated Vehicle Identification; A transponder mounted at the vehicle entry automatically identifies and accepts vehicles with properly issued identification tag access to the facility.

Carriers : A certain type of apparatus in a M/A system performing horizontal movements in x directions

Controls : The part of a system which is comprised of computers, sensors, PLC’s; in short the entire electronics

Credit Card Access: A patron accesses the parking facility by inserting a credit card into the entry reader, which provides for automatic payment of the parking fee allow patrons to use the M/A system via the use of a regular credit card

dba :

DTO : Dynamic Traffic Operation

DVO : Dynamic Valet Operation

DwellTime : The time it takes a Patron to drive into the Terminal and walk out to the point of system activation

Helix: A coiled shape or spiral. In a parking structure, a series of Parking Bays and/or ramps that provide floor-to-floor circulation.

HMI : Human Machine Interface, another word newer date for GUI or MMI ( Man Machine Interface)

Land Use : The intended type of activity in or functional use of a building.

Lifts : Transport devices used for vertical movement of vehicles (not to confuse with elevators)

Loading Station :

Lobby : The designated area in an M/A system where patrons go to request their car for retrieval

Machinery : Another word for lifts, shuttles and carriers is not one single apparatus as there are specific words

M / A : Mechanical / automated

MBps : Megabits - millions of bits per second. A bit is short for a binary digit. Bits are are essentially switches on electronic computers that are on (which is a 1) or off (which is a 0). Bt arranging 1s and 0s in numerous combinations, all letters, numbers, graphics, etc. can be represented, stored and manipulated electronically.

Mechanical System: Method of parking cars that involves a person to some degree (garage attendant or driver of car) to take necessary steps to initiate/perform mechanical movements, using different machines, which are typically triggered by electrical pushbuttons, not a software program.

Pallets : A platform on which the car is transported and stored.

Parking Garage : A parking facility that does not meet code requirements for openness and therefore must have mechanical ventilation.

Parking Structure : A multistory parking facility that meets code requirements for natural ventilation. May be called a parking deck or parking ramp.

Patrons : Persons driving a car and using the M/A System for parking their vehicle

PLC : Programmable Logic Controller; an industrial computer performing tasks written on the so called inherent Ladderlogic (a software program written like a ladder, line by line in sequence following logical commands)

POF : Pay On Foot; A device which allows automatic cash or credit card payments of the parking fee and interfaces with the M/A parking system to store and retrieve vehicles.

Rack : The supporting frame for a M/A parking system, providing the necessary framework for storage, machinery and eventually the building around the M/A parking system.

Rail : fixed runway for a single or multiple machines in a M/A system

Retrieval time: The time measured from the moment of the activation of the retrieval process by the patron until the patron can access its car to drive out of the M/A system

RF : Radio Frequency; a means of communicating signals without wires but airwaves on certain frequencies

RF Tag : A card similar to the size of a credit card which transmits a defined signal to a reader which in turn communicates this signal to the main computer of the M/A system

Server : A computer that is dedicated to serving other computers. A server has special software that process requests from other individual personal computers and provides the individual computer with answers or instructions. In an automated garage their are many tiny computers called Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). These communicate with a server and ask what they should do. The server tells them what to do and then they create the motion necessary to move the cars.

Shuttle : A vehicle transport device that moves horizontally in x and y direction.

Slot : A storage space for one car inside a M/A system

Spaces : The amount of parking slots a M/A system can hold / park for a certain configuration of the system

Storage time : The time measured from the moment a patron activates the system to store its car after proper positioning of the car in the Terminal until a next patron can use one free terminal to enter with its car for another store

System : The entirety of the M/A facility including structure, mechanics, electric, electronic and software with hardware

Terminal : The drop-off and pick-up point of a M/A system

Throughput : The amount of cars in any one way flow, which the system can perform in a specified time frame

Ticketing Station: A form of access to the M/A system which dispenses a ticket to the patron. Located at the left outside of the outer door of the Terminal

Turnover : The average number of times a parking space is used by different vehicles over a 24-hour period. Calculated by dividing the number of parkers in a facility each day by static capacity.

Turnover capacity : The ability to accommodate traffic flow that mixes both arriving and departing vehicles in the same hour.

Valet parking : System in which attendants (rather than customers) park and retrieve vehicles.