Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for determination of an actual occupancy distribution of parking spots of a parking area. The method may include: processing an actual image of the parking area to detect one or more vehicles in the actual image, resulting in an actual vehicle representation; and processing the actual vehicle representation and an earlier generated general layout of the parking area to determine the actual occupancy distribution.

Abstract: A charging system for autonomous charging of an electric vehicle with electric energy includes a vertical charging arm part, a charging cable or busbar connectible to the electric vehicle, and an elongate horizontal charging arm part extendible from the vertical charging arm part toward the electric vehicle. The horizontal charging arm part has a first drive system with a first linear operative direction corresponding to a longitudinal direction of the horizontal charging arm part, allowing a vehicle-side end of the horizontal charging arm part to move autonomously using the first drive system, relative to the electric vehicle relative to a first linear degree of freedom. A second drive system has a second linear operative direction moving the horizontal charging arm part autonomously relative to the electric vehicle relative to a second linear degree of freedom. A method for charging an electric vehicle using the charging system is also provided.