Gatwick Airport partners with Stanley Robotics to test robotic valet parking service

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Stanley Robotics has signed a framework contract with Gatwick Airport that will result in Gatwick becoming the first airport in the United Kingdom to test robots that valet park passengers’ cars.

During the trial, which is expected to run from the second half of 2019 to early 2020, passengers will leave their cars in a ‘parking station’ close to the South Terminal entrance. A driverless robot will gently lift up the car and store it in a secure car park, all without passengers having to hand over their keys.

The system will be connected to real-time flight information so the robot simply returns the vehicle to the parking station. The user will receive a message that the vehicle is ready and waiting for their arrival.

“The valet parking robots could revolutionize parking at Gatwick and may also become common-place at airports and other businesses across the world,” says Guy Stephenson, chief commercial officer, Gatwick Airport.

“The new service will be a convenient, personalized experience that will save passengers time, while also reducing vehicle emissions.”

According to Gatwick and Stanley Robotics, this new automated system has the potential to greatly increase car park capacity, while also potentially helping the airport meet the increasing demand for air travel with only limited changes to its existing infrastructure.

“We are proud to be leading this innovation with Gatwick Airport, whose excellence in operations is recognized globally,” says Stéphane Evanno, COO of Stanley Robotics.