Just the thought of parking at the airport can put your whole trip into question—is the hassle worth it? Welcome Stan, the autonomous robotic valet, who is trying to remove the dread out of airport parking. After successful trials in France, including at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, Stan is traveling to London’s Gatwick Airport in August, according to New Atlas.
The process is simple. Travelers drop their car off in a garage, verify their flight and parking information at the terminal, and head off to their plane. Stan then takes control, carrying the car to a free space. For added security, the parking lot is not open to the public, only the robot valets. Since the system knows each traveler’s flight information, their cars will be waiting for them once they return.
The robot can maneuver cars up to 6 m (19.7 ft) long, and can “easily handle a 3 ton load,” according to Stan’s creator Stanley Robotics. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms optimize the parking process, while sensors help it navigate the lots.
To see just how Stan works, check out the video below.