London Gatwick Airport Introduces Robotic Parking Service with Stanley Robotics

Robotic Parking at Gatwick

London Gatwick Airport has implemented a new robotic parking system, making it the first airport in the United Kingdom to offer such a service. This initiative, developed in collaboration with Stanley Robotics, allows passengers to utilize an automated system for parking their vehicles.

How the System Works

Passengers drive their cars into a private drop-off cabin near the South Terminal and scan their booking. After exiting the vehicle, an autonomous robot from Stanley Robotics slides under the car, lifts it by its tires, and transports it to a secure storage area. Passengers provide return flight details during booking, enabling the system to have their vehicle ready in a collection cabin upon their arrival.

Benefits for Passengers and Operations

The robotic parking system aims to eliminate the need for passengers to search for parking spaces, facilitating quicker access to the terminal. Unlike traditional valet services, passengers retain possession of their car keys. For the airport, this technology allows for more efficient use of parking capacity, as cars can be parked closer together in the secure area, maximizing the number of vehicles stored without requiring additional infrastructure.

First UK Deployment

While Stanley Robotics has deployed similar systems internationally, the Gatwick installation marks its inaugural deployment at a UK airport. The service is available for booking, with the first customer journeys scheduled for August. On-site staff are available to retrieve emergency items if passengers accidentally leave something in their vehicle after drop-off.