Funding source: Caltrans

Contract number: 65A0674, TO-027
Funding amount: $65,000
Performance period: 1/1/2020 to 4/1/2021

Parking infrastructure is suffering from congestion as the number of vehicles circulating in urban areas is growing and expansion is not a cost-effective solution. In parallel, developments in autonomous vehicle technology mean that driverless vehicles are predicted to be in circulation by the 2020s and makeup 40% of vehicle travel by the 2040s. Expected benefits of autonomous vehicle travel include reduced congestion through vehicle sharing and reduced walking distance for passengers who can be dropped off chauffeur-style by autonomous vehicles. However, empty vehicle cruising, or the case in which autonomous vehicles cannot efficiently locate parking and circle instead, can potentially increase congestion. Given that this new technology has the potential to exacerbate existing congestion issues, it is necessary to develop a solution for parking congestion integrated with autonomous vehicles. Our project addresses this issue by providing a full-stack solution including sensors to monitor occupancy, Fog systems to perform local data pre- processing, and SDR radios to communicate with autonomous vehicles.