HL Mando to test-drive Level 4 autonomous parking system

HL Mando Corp., an electric vehicle and self-driving system developing unit of South Korea’s HL Group, will test-drive its nearly fully self-driving valet parking robot Parkie in the spring of next year, the company said on Friday.

According to the company, Parkie is powered by Level 4 autonomous driving technology.

Vehicles with Level 0, 1 or 2 driver support systems require an active and engaged driver, but Level 3, 4 or 5 automated driving systems do not require human supervision.  

Parkie does not require any extra assistance system for its operation, the company said. 

The self-driving valet parking solution can measure a vehicle’s weight and the distance between wheels by detecting surrounding objects, road conditions and car plate numbers, the company explained during its demonstration to media on Thursday.  

It can park all types of vehicles, including sports cars and sport utility vehicles.

HL Mando expects Parkie to save about 20% in parking system running costs compared to conventional automated parking systems such as the tower parking system.

Test-driving for Parkie is slated to take place in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, a thriving startup hub in Korea, in April next year but its commercial release date has not yet been confirmed.

Write to Sungsu Bae at baebae@hankyung.com

Sookyung Seo edited this article.