Do you tip an automated valet?

Image courtesy Ford Motor Co.

Whether in a parking garage, on the street, or in a crowded surface lot, parking is a pain. An interesting pilot of a robot valet parking system in a Detroit office building is hoping to change that. The robotic system not only takes the pain out of parking, it allows room for 20% more cars to fit in the garage because the car doors don’t need to open.

The system being tested in Detroit is designed by German engineering firm Bosch and uses Lidar technology to guide Ford Escapes into their parking spots. And while the company calls it “automated valet parking,” it’s the garage, not the cars, that’s been enhanced. The Lidar-equipped garage guides the cars into their spots using features like cameras and sensors that come standard on the Escapes.

You can see it in action here.