Automated Vehicle Parking Garage with Catwalk Installation

Abstract

An automated parking garage includes a three-dimensional warehousing facility for receiving a vehicle at a delivery bay, storing the vehicle in a parking area, and retrieving the vehicle from the parking area. The parking garage includes mechanical elements for transporting the vehicle between the delivery bay and the parking space, namely, at least one shuttle vehicle and at least one elevator. A central computer is in electrical communication with each of the mechanical elements to control the movement of the corresponding elements in the facility. A main catwalk extends the length of the facility to define parking spaces in the parking area to receive at least two vehicles, each vehicle having a front end and a rear end, with the desired end of each vehicle adjacent the main catwalk.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/978,581 filed Oct. 9, 2007, which is incorporated herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an automated system and an automated method for storing items in a three-dimensional warehousing facility, having a catwalk for accessing vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a conventional three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage, mechanical elements or motorized conveyances, such as lifts (elevators), cranes, shuttle vehicles (moving platforms), turntables, and other mechanical elements are used to transport a vehicle from an entry/exit station at the arrival/departure level of the parking garage to a parking space in the parking garage and then retrieve the vehicle from the parking space and transport the vehicle to the entry/exit station, without human assistance.

In general, a typical automated vehicle parking garage consists of a storage (or parking) area with individual parking spaces, one or more entry/exit stations (or bays) for accepting a vehicle from a driver for parking and for delivering the vehicle to the driver upon retrieval, and motorized conveyances (mechanical elements), such as elevators and shuttle vehicles, used to transport the vehicle from the entry/exit station to the parking space and to transport the vehicle from the parking space to the entry/exit station for driver retrieval. The conventional three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage is controlled and managed by a control system based on PLCs (programmable logic controllers) or other control circuitry, and by central management software running on a central management computer that operates the control system. The control system is typically resident on one or more PLCs, and the central management software is typically resident on a central management computer that receives inputs from and sends command to the various mechanical elements (e.g. elevators and shuttle vehicles) to coordinate the movement of those mechanical elements, namely, the transportation of a vehicle between the entry/exit station and the parking space.

Automated parking systems such as those described above are designed to provide automated and unattended storage and retrieval of vehicles, and therefore only automatic conveying devices have access to the storage area, and access is not provided to the area where the vehicles are stored. Since human access is not required for normal operation, such systems are designed without a catwalk, stairs or similar devices in order to provide maximum capacity. However, in certain countries or states, human access may be required by the local authorities according to fire abatement regulations.

Another problem that arises from the structure of the automated garage is the safety of the persons that are to maintain the facility. Like any other electromechanical system, preventive maintenance is constantly needed. Due to the nature of the automated parking solution, access to some of the elements in the system may require severe safety considerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An automated vehicle parking system having a catwalk structure or bridge installed within the vehicle storage area is described herein. The parking system facilitates the physical access of parked vehicles on different floors by fire abatement teams equipped with fire abatement equipment, as well as the access of maintenance personnel, to each stored vehicle within the system, in a safe and fast way. The main catwalk is positioned proximate the parking area and will maximize the number of available parking places and make efficient use of the space. This garage does not require any increase of the total footprint and land requirements of the system over conventional systems.

Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a top plan view of the ground floor of a three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage having a catwalk;

FIG. 1b is a side elevational view of the stairs used in the automated parking garage of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the floors other than the ground floor of the automated parking garage of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 3a is a side elevational view of the automated parking garage of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 3b is a cut away view of the automated parking garage of FIG. 3a taken along the lines of Detail A;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the ground floor of a second embodiment of a three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage having a catwalk;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the automated parking garage of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the ground floor of a third embodiment of a three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage having a catwalk;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the floors other than the ground floor of the automated parking garage of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8a is a side elevational view of the automated parking garage of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8b is a cut away view of the automated parking garage of FIG. 10a taken along the lines of Detail A;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side elevational views of additional variations of the embodiment of the parking garage illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the ground floor of a fourth embodiment of a three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage having a catwalk;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are side elevational views of the automated parking garage of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the automated parking garage of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a central computer that may be used for control of the mechanical elements of the parking garage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1a-3b, a three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage 10 is illustrated schematically. The parking garage 10 includes a building 11 that surrounds parking or storage areas 14 for vehicles 12, with multiple parking areas 14 being located on multiple levels L1-L4a (see FIG. 3a). Each parking area 14 of the parking garage 10 has parking or storage spaces 16, which are respectively labeled P1-P31 and P1a-P31a on each of the floors L1-L4a (see FIGS. 2 and 3a). With continuing reference to FIG. 1a, the parking garage 10 has several entrance/exit stations or delivery bays 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d (four in this example) for accepting the vehicle 12 from a ground-level entry point 8. Each entry bay 24a-24d leads to a rotating platform 33 on the ground floor L0, which will position the vehicle 12 in the desired parking orientation as described herein. These delivery bays 24a-24d define an entry/exit station for a driver for parking the vehicle 12 and for retrieving the vehicle 12 after being stored at the parking garage 10.

The vehicle 12 is moved from the entry/exit station 24a by means of mechanical elements or motorized conveyances, such as shuttle vehicles 34 and elevators 30 as controlled by a central management computer 26 (see FIG. 15). For example, the ground floor L0 of parking garage 10 shown in FIG. 1a has three shuttle vehicles 34 and two elevators 30a, 30b. For the vehicle 12 presented for parking at the entry/exit station 24a, the shuttle vehicle 34 moves the vehicle 12 from the entry/exit station 24a to a parking space 16 on floor L0. If no parking space 16 is available on floor L0, the shuttle vehicle 34 carries the vehicle 12 to elevator 30a or 30b. The elevator 30a or 30b lifts or lowers the vehicle 12 from ground floor L0 to the desired floor level L1-L4a having an available parking space 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a, the parking garage 10 has several levels other than the ground floor L0, namely, floor L1 above the ground floor L0 and floors L1a-L4a below the ground floor L0. Of course, the number of levels above ground and below ground may vary according to any parking garage design. When the vehicle 12 reaches the desired floor level having an available parking space 16, a second shuttle vehicle 34 on that floor will retrieve the vehicle 12 from the elevator 30 and deliver the vehicle 12 to the available parking space 16.

Each floor L1-L4a of the first embodiment, other than the bottom or ground floor L0 of FIG. 1a, has a layout as illustrated in FIG. 2. Each parking space 16 on floor level L1 and L1a-L4a is identified by a floor number, a row number, and a rank number. As shown in FIG. 2, each parking space 16 is specifically identified as an outer space P1-P31 or an inner space P1a-P31a. An aisle 22 extends along the length of the parking garage 10 between the first set of inner spaces P1a-P16a and the second set of inner spaces P17a-P31a. In the embodiment illustrated, the length of the housing 11 from space P1 to space P16 is approximately 140 feet, and the width of the housing 11 is substantially 107 feet.

The elevators 30 are located along the aisle 22. The shuttle vehicles 34 on ground floor L0 move along aisle 22 between the elevators 30 in order to deliver vehicles 12 from the elevators 30 to the parking spaces 16, such as the vehicle 12 from elevator 30 to the parking space 16 or to retrieve the vehicle 12 from the parking space 16 and to return the vehicle 12 to the elevator 30a. The selection of the particular shuttle vehicle 34 and the particular elevator 30a or 30b is made by the central computer 26 or a distributed control system. The decision depends on variables such as the location and status of those particular mechanical elements at the time the instruction is issued to move the vehicle 12 between the parking space 16 and one of the elevators 30a or 30b on ground floor L0, with the central computer 26 monitoring each of the variables.

The parking garage 10 integrates main or primary catwalks 40 (or walkways or bridges) and safety meshes 39 in the vehicle storage area 14 where the vehicles 12 are stored. Through various embodiments illustrated herein, the automated parking garage 10 provides the access to each parked vehicle 12 with a design that uses the minimum usable space for catwalks 40 while conforming with fire department regulations and providing maximum safety. When required, the access is provided to the front of the parked vehicles 12, where the engine is located and which is more susceptible to fire hazards. In all of the alternative embodiments discussed herein, the catwalks 40 are designed to allow access only to one side of the vehicle 12, and in certain alternatives a single catwalk 40 path allows access to two adjacent vehicles 12.

As depicted in Figure la, the main catwalk 40 in each floor L1 and L1a-L4a is located centrally between the inner row of parking spaces 16 (individually labeled P1-P31) and the outer row of parking spaces 16 (individually labeled P1a-P31a). More specifically, one main catwalk 40 is located in a first parking area 14 between parking spaces labeled P1-P16 and P1a-P16a, and another main catwalk 40 is located in a second parking area 14 between parking spaces labeled P17-P31 and P17a-P31a. A connecting catwalk 41 (or bridge or walkway) will join the main catwalks 40 positioned in the rows of parking spaces 16. Additionally, as discussed herein, alternative embodiments of the main catwalk 40 may also be located at the perimeter of the parking garage 10. In each embodiment, the catwalk 40 is positioned slightly underneath the path of the shuttle vehicles 34 in each respective floor L1-L4a, overlapping the same footprint when looked at from above (see FIGS. 2 and 3a). Note that the width of the main catwalk 40 illustrated in FIG. 1 is approximately 3.5 feet, although other dimensions may be incorporated to achieve the desired overall width of the housing 11, and the width of the connecting catwalk 41 is four feet, although other dimensions may be used to control the overall length of the housing 11. As a result, the catwalk 40 does not require an additional footprint (length or width) in order to be implemented in the parking garage 10. It is noted that catwalks 40 are typically not used in parking garages. If they are incorporated, then they are added to the area outside the parking spaces 16 or they increase the center aisle, which undesirably increases the length and/or width of the overall parking garage 10. Each catwalk 40 is accessible by a human at a stairway 25 that extends vertically above and below the ground level L0. It is to be noted that the connecting catwalk 41 (and any other paths on the outer perimeter of the parking area 14) are not in the travel path of the shuttle vehicle 34, and therefore may be positioned at the same level of travel of the shuttle vehicle 34 and not necessarily below.

Even with parking spaces 16 in double or triple deep layouts in the parking area 14, the main catwalk 40 is located centrally between the rows of parking spaces 16 and overlapping the shuttle vehicle paths. Only catwalks 40 positioned on each side of the parking spaces 16 will increase the total width of the parking garage 10, therefore keeping the total footprint of the building 11 as small as possible.

The first step of using the parking garage 10 is the vehicle 12 entering the entrance bay 24a-24d. The driver of the vehicle 12 will follow one or more traffic signs that lead to the desired entrance bay 24a-24d. A second signal or display, such as a traffic light (green/red display), will notify the driver when the particular bay 24a-24d is ready to receive the vehicle 12. Note that the entrance bay 24a-24d may also be used for exit (depending on the layout of the facility).

The driver will then direct the vehicle 12 toward the particular entrance bay 24a-24d. When the approaching vehicle 12 has passed a specified point, an automatic roll-up door (not illustrated) opens. The driver will then direct the vehicle 12 inside the corresponding bay 24. An automatic sensors system (not illustrated) will assist the driver in positioning the vehicle 12 in the correct location. The central computer 26 or control system will monitor the vehicle 12 via the sensors system to verify that the measurements of the particular vehicle 12 fit within the specified dimensions of the parking garage 10 and the parking space 16 to safely accept the vehicle 12. If any of the measurements of the vehicle 12 exceed the allowed limitation, then the driver will be requested to withdraw the vehicle 12 from the parking garage 10.

When the vehicle 12 has been positioned correctly in the bay 24, the central computer 26 will provide a corresponding notice. to the driver using a display panel, such as: “The vehicle is parked correctly. Please leave the vehicle.” The driver will engage the parking brakes, check that all the vehicle 12 doors are closed, and leave the entrance bay 24. The driver will walk to an automatic parking ticket machine 52 to take a parking ticket, with the ticket machine 52 being in electrical communication with the central computer 26. The ticket machine 52 may be located in or near the bay 24 (such as in a waiting room 50). The central computer 26 will be able to accommodate regular drivers that pay for parking on a monthly or yearly basis. Optionally, an image of the vehicle 12 including license plate number is automatically captured by a camera (not illustrated) before the storage process begins, to facilitate identification of the vehicle 12 in the case parking ticket is lost by the driver. After exiting the bay area 24, a system component connected to the central computer 26 will check that the bay 24 area is clear before starting the automatic process.

Once the bay 24 is clear, the central computer 26 will begin the process of automatically conveying the vehicle 12 to an available parking space 16 using shuttle vehicles 34, conveyors, elevators 30 and/or other automated conveying devices or mechanical elements. In the illustrated embodiment, the driver will park the vehicle 12 in the delivery bay 24 on the rotating platform 33. However, it should be noted that the rotating platform 33 can be located down the path of the entry level and no necessarily at the delivery bay 24. After the vehicle 12 has been scanned, the central computer 26 will determine the available and appropriate parking space 16 for the vehicle 12, and the vehicle 12 will be rotated, if necessary, to achieve the desired orientation with respect to the catwalk 40 and the available parking space 16. That is, software operated by the central computer 26 will determine whether the front or rear is to be proximate the main catwalk 40, and then direct the rotating platform 33 to rotate the vehicle 12 by 180 degrees to provide the desired orientation of the vehicle 12 before being loaded onto the mechanical elements for moving the vehicle 12. Thus, the parking garage 10 will store the vehicles 12 so that each vehicle 12 will always face a catwalk 40 for easy access to the front of the vehicle 12.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1a, the vehicle 12 is then moved from the rotating platform 33 to the elevator 30 using the shuttle vehicle 34 or other moving means. Once on the elevator 30, the vehicle 12 will be moved vertically to the desired floor L1-L4a as determined by the computer system 26. Once positioned at the desired floor L1-L4a, the vehicle 12 is engaged by a second shuttle vehicle 34 to transfer the vehicle 12 horizontally to the desired parking slot 16, where the vehicle 12 is to be stored on the corresponding metal beams of the parking garage 10.

One or more main catwalks 40 are positioned adjacent the parking slots 16, with the main catwalk 40 being positioned underneath or below the path of the travel of the shuttle vehicle 34 that moves the vehicle 12 horizontally (see FIG. 3a). The distance between the shuttle vehicle 34 and the respective catwalk 40 is minimal (typically measured in a few inches) so that any persons accessing a vehicle 12 via the catwalk 40 will be positioned at a conventional height to access the vehicle 12.

When the driver wishes to retrieve the vehicle 12 from the parking space 16, he will enter the waiting room 50 and insert the parking card (or member card) to the automatic payment machine or identification station 52, which could include a separate computer or be a link to the central computer 26. The station 52 calculates the parking time for the particular vehicle 12, and after the payment process is complete and/or valid membership is authenticated, the automatic vehicle retrieval process is started.

The driver can follow the process on a display in the waiting room 50 that shows the list of vehicles 12 that are being retrieved and the estimated time left before each vehicle 12 is expected to reach an exit bay 24a-24d. The vehicle 12 will be engaged by a shuttle vehicle 34 in the parking space 16 and taken to one of the elevators 30, and then returned to the ground floor L0. The vehicle 12 will then be transported to the rotatable platform 33, and using information stored in the central computer 26, the system will determine if the vehicle 12 needs to be rotated for the vehicle 12 to be in the exit-facing position in the bay 24a-24d. Once the vehicle 12 has been placed in the exit bay 24a-24d, the driver will be notified by a message on the display showing the number of the particular bay 24a-24d where the vehicle 12 is located. The driver enters the correct bay 24a-24d, finds the vehicle 12 in a convenient exit-facing position, and leaves with his vehicle 12.

This invention provides the safest method to access every component of the system (shuttle vehicle 24, elevator 30, etc.) for regular maintenance or repairs. Any other solution is either more risky (without catwalks 40, maintenance persons have to walk on the storage shelving structure, and sometimes needs to be suspended to reach remote components), or compromise space utilization (there is always the possibility to add catwalks 40 that are not overlapping the moving shuttle vehicle as suggested by this invention, and therefore increase the total width or length of the system, thus requiring more land area).

In a second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-5, vehicles 12 are stored in a double-deep storage system like the first embodiment. That is, the vehicles 12 face each other in the same parking area 14, so that one main catwalk 40 is installed between the inner row of parking spaces and outer row of parking spaces. Thus, based on the position of the catwalk 40, the user is always provided access to the front of the vehicles 12. However, in this embodiment, additional elevators 30 may be included into the parking garage 10. Such additional elevators 30 expedite the storage and retrieval of the vehicles 12.

In a third embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8b, vehicles 12 are stored in a double-deep storage system of parking spaces 16. However, rather the main catwalk 40 is not positioned between the inner row of parking spaces and outer row of parking spaces as with the previous embodiments. Rather, the main 15. catwalk 40 is replaced with an outer catwalk 40o (or walkway or bridge) and an inner catwalk 40i (or walkway or bridge) that extend along opposite sides of the parking area 14, with the outer catwalk 40o and inner catwalk 40i each being more narrow than the main catwalk 40. While this embodiment is not as efficient in usage of space, it provides additional channels to access the vehicles store in the garage 10. The advantage of this embodiment is a better ability to service the shuttle cars 34 that operate horizontally on the main aisle 22.

Looking to FIG. 8a, the vehicles 12 are parked in a direction opposite the previous embodiments. Namely, the front of one vehicle 12 will face the inner catwalk 40i while the front of an abutting vehicle 12 will face the outer catwalk 40o. Consequently, the orientation of the vehicle 12 is to be taken into consideration by the central computer 26 when the vehicle 12 is positioned on the rotatable platform 33.

In a further embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the outer catwalk 40o is moved between the vehicles 12, providing a more narrow catwalk 40o than the main catwalk 40 shown in FIG. 1a. In this embodiment, the front of each vehicle 12 is directed toward the center of the building 11, such that the front of one vehicle 12 will face the inner catwalk 40i and the front of the abutting vehicle 12 will also face the outer catwalk 40o. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the inner catwalk 40i has a smaller safety mesh 39, thus reducing the cost of the system without compromising the safety. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the inner catwalk 40i has a safety mesh 39 utilizing the whole aisle 22, and bridging catwalks 40i to facilitate movement between the two sides.

In a fourth alternative illustrated in FIGS. 11-14, vehicles 12 are stored in a triple-deep storage system. In this embodiment, one parking area 14a has a standard width with a main catwalk 40 extending there through. The width of the second parking area 14b is extended to allow three vehicles 12 positioned in the parking area 14b, and includes a main catwalk 40 extending there through along with an inner catwalk 40i abutting the aisle 22. In the first parking area 14a, the vehicles 12 are stored as with the first embodiment. In the second parking area 14b, two vehicles 12 are facing in opposite directions; one toward the inner catwalk 40i and one toward the main catwalk 40. The third vehicle 12 will face the main catwalk 40. In this design, the main catwalks 40 allow access to the fronts of the vehicles 12 in the center of the building 11, and the inner catwalk 40i allows access to the vehicles 12 facing the center aisle 22. Although this embodiment may not be as efficient in usage of space as the earlier embodiments, it provides additional channels to access vehicles 12 stored in the garage and uses only the minimum extra space required for the center catwalk 40.

While an AUTOMATED VEHICLE PARKING GARAGE WITH CATWALK INSTALLATION has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.

Claims

1. In an automated parking garage having a three-dimensional warehousing facility for receiving a vehicle at a delivery bay, transporting the vehicle between the delivery bay and a parking area using shuttle vehicle and an elevator in electrical communication with a central computer controlling the movement of the shuttle vehicle and elevator in the facility, the improvement in the automated parking garage comprising:

a main catwalk traversing the parking area, the catwalk defining parking spaces in the parking area to receive a first vehicle and a second vehicle, each vehicle having a front end and a rear end, with the desired end of each vehicle proximate the main catwalk.

2. The automated parking garage as described in claim 1, wherein the main catwalk further comprises an inner catwalk traversing the parking area and an outer catwalk along an edge of the parking area, with the front end of the first vehicle proximate the inner catwalk and the front end of the second vehicle proximate the outer catwalk.

3. The automated parking garage as described in claim 1 wherein the catwalk is positioned below the path of travel of the shuttle vehicle.

4. The automated parking garage as described in claim 1 further comprising a rotatable platform in electrical communication with the central computer, the central computer directing the rotation of the platform to the desired orientation for the vehicle thereon.

5. The automated parking garage as described in claim 1 further comprising:

a second main catwalk traversing a second parking area, the second catwalk defining parking spaces in the second parking area to receive additional vehicles; and

a connecting catwalk joining the two main catwalks in separate parking areas.

6. An automated parking garage for storing vehicles in a parking space, the automated parking garage comprising:

a housing having a delivery bay on a ground level and multiple levels for storing vehicles;

a central aisle extending along the length of the housing to define two parking areas;

at least one shuttle vehicle located on each level of the housing, each shuttle vehicle traveling along the central aisle to horizontally transport a vehicle;

an elevator positioned in the housing proximate the central aisle to vertically transport vehicles in the housing;

a central computer in electrical communication with the platform, each shuttle vehicle, and each elevator to control the operation of the platform, each shuttle vehicle, and each elevator; and

a main catwalk extending along each parking area below the path of each shuttle vehicle, the main catwalk defining the parking spaces to receive vehicles proximate the catwalk;

wherein the shuttle vehicles transport the vehicles between one parking space and one elevator.

7. The automated parking garage as described in claim 6, wherein the main catwalk separates the parking area into parking spaces for at least two vehicles, each vehicle having a front end and a rear end, with the desired end of each vehicle positioned adjacent the main catwalk.

8. The automated parking garage as described in claim 7, further comprising a rotatable platform to receive a vehicle and position the vehicle to the desired orientation corresponding for the desired end of each vehicle to be positioned adjacent the main catwalk.

9. An automated method for storing a vehicle having a front end and a back end in a three-dimensional warehousing facility and providing access to one end of the stored vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

a. receiving the vehicle in a delivery bay;

b. determining a first parking space for the first vehicle on a parking level using a central computer;

c. transferring the vehicle from the platform to an elevator using a shuttle vehicle;

d. vertically moving the vehicle to the parking level with the elevator;

e. transferring the vehicle from the elevator to the first parking space on the parking level using a second shuttle vehicle; and

f. storing the vehicle in the first parking space with the front of the vehicle proximate a main catwalk extending the length of the facility.

10. The method as described in claim 9, further comprising after step b) the step of rotating a platform supporting the vehicle in the delivery bay to a desired orientation for the vehicle in the determined first parking space.

11. The method as described in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second vehicle in the delivery bay on the rotatable platform;

determining a second available parking space proximate the first parking space using a central computer;

rotating the platform according to the desired orientation of the second vehicle in the second parking space;

transferring the second vehicle from the platform to the elevator using a shuttle vehicle;

vertically moving the second vehicle to the parking level with the elevator;

transferring the second vehicle from the elevator to the second parking space on the parking level using a second shuttle vehicle; and

storing the second vehicle in the second parking space with the front of the second vehicle proximate the main catwalk.

12. The method as described in claim 11 further comprising the step of storing the second vehicle in the second parking space opposite the first vehicle, the front of the second vehicle facing the front of the first vehicle.

13. The method as described in claim 11 further comprising the step of:

providing a main catwalk having a inner catwalk and an outer catwalk;

storing the first vehicle in the first parking space proximate the inner catwalk; and

storing the second vehicle in the second parking space proximate the outer catwalk.

14. The method as described in claim 10 wherein step c) further comprises the step of:

transmitting an electronic signal from the central computer to the rotatable platform to direct the rotation of the platform.

15. The method as described in claim 10 wherein step g) further comprises the step of:

providing the main catwalk slightly below the path of travel of the second shuttle vehicle.

16. The method as described in claim 10 wherein step b) further comprises:

choosing from multiple parking levels in the facility above and below a ground level.

17. In an automated parking garage having a three-dimensional housing for receiving a vehicle at an entrance, transporting the vehicle between the entrance and a parking area using shuttle vehicles on multiple levels in the housing and an elevator in electrical communication with a central computer controlling the movement of the shuttle vehicle and elevator in the facility, the improvement in the automated parking garage comprising:

a primary bridge traversing the parking area to define parking spaces to receive a first vehicle and a second vehicle, each vehicle having a front end and a rear end, with the desired end of each vehicle proximate the primary bridge, wherein the primary bridge is positioned slightly below the path of travel of the shuttle vehicle on the corresponding level.

18. The automated parking garage as described in claim 17, wherein the primary bridge further comprises an inner bridge traversing the parking area and an outer bridge along an outer edge of the parking area, with the front end of the first vehicle proximate the inner bridge and the front end of the second vehicle proximate the outer bridge.

19. The automated parking garage as described in claim 17 further comprising a rotatable platform in electrical communication with the central computer, the central computer directing the rotation of the platform to the desired orientation for the vehicle thereon.

20. The automated parking garage as described in claim 17 further comprising:

a second primary bridge traversing a second parking area, the second bridge defining parking spaces in the second parking area to receive additional vehicles; and

a connecting bridge along the edge of the parking areas joining the two primary bridges in separate parking areas.