Urbanization brings with it massive demand for parking spaces. The construction of smart parking systems then becomes an essential strategy for solving traffic problems and enhancing habitability. Taiwan International Development CO. (TIDC), ASUS MAAS, and the ASUS IoT business unit have formed a three-way partnership to develop the first all-in-one smart charger in Taiwan that combines charging, parking, and payment functions to satisfy the smart parking requirements of modern cities.
ASUS IoT is committed to improving the quality of life in smart cities by using data and digital technologies as well as the in-depth integration of AI technologies, software, and hardware to implement smarter and more efficient city management solutions. AI technology can offer accurate prediction and analysis for improved system speed and accuracy. Software-hardware integration improves system stability and flexibility. More accurate license-plate recognition for smart parking systems reduces congestion, improves the utilization of parking resources, boosts the city's operating efficiency, and raises resident satisfaction. A superior living environment can be created by realizing the vision for smart and efficient city management.
TIDC President Shi-chen Chen noted that chargers and parking systems face a plethora of challenges from smart city and net-zero carbon emission trends. The popularization of electric vehicles has created market demand for the installation of more charging facilities. These must be integrated with existing car parks and a reasonable billing mechanism set up. Parking management has already transitioned from tracking total volume to individual parking spaces. Smart functions such as license plate and vehicle model recognition must also be integrated into the system. In response, TIDC, ASUS MAAS, and ASUS IoT joined forces to help local governments throughout Taiwan develop their smart parking systems.
Under the current collaboration model, TIDC is responsible for site management and customer service as well as collecting feedback on real-world applications and market demand. ASUS is the technology provider responsible for hardware such as smart bollards and chargers, and low-level software technologies – includes APIs and SDKs. ASUS MAAS plays the role of system integrator, integrating ASUS software and hardware to create full smart parking systems. According to ASUS MAAS, the model not only allowed the three vendors to respond rapidly to market requirements using their respective strengths but also engage in ongoing innovation on total smart solutions for the car park market.
The ASUS MAAS all-in-one smart charger is based on the company's own X-Spotter system, an advanced smart parking system that includes several innovative features. The high-mount license-plate-recognition system can recognize the license plates of up to eight parking spaces at the same time and offers real-time parking space detection. The system also supports smart parking management and multiple payment methods for paperless parking. Multiple security functions such as intrusion detection have applications in residential and commercial scenarios. Integration with city-grade AI and EV energy-management platforms allows for energy analysis and management. The unobtrusive, low-interference design helps to maintain the aesthetics of the streetscape. The X-Spotter system will be upgraded in the future to support safety functions such as fire prevention, smoke detection, and anti-electricity theft to enhance the overall parking experience and management efficiency.
The smart parking features of X-Spotter are powered by the PE1000-series edge AI system, an AIoT solution provided by ASUS IoT. ASUS AIoT Senior Business Development Manager Chih-wen Shih said that the business unit provides clients with one-stop smart city solutions. Product lines encompass the ARM architecture, NVIDIA JETSON series, as well as Intel and Windows solutions.
The PE1000 series high-performance edge AI computer used in the X-Spotter incorporates the NVIDIA Jetson platform to support everything from Nano to Orin Nano and AGX Orin for different applications. Key features of the PE1000 series include fanless design, diversified I/O interfaces, WiFi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and optional 4G/5G communication modules for more flexibility on connections. The PE1000 series also supports a wide range of power inputs and operating temperatures to cater to different environmental conditions. ASUS Expansion Module (AEM) broadens its range of applications even more.
TIDC has already rolled out smart car parks and electric vehicle charging facilities in a number of Taiwanese cities with the help of ASUS and ASUS MAAS. Taichung Civic Park Underground Parking Lot is planning to install 22 11kW slow chargers and four 120kW fast chargers. Tainan has installed 39 charging facilities already while Pingtung is planning to install 181 11kW slow chargers and four fast chargers. Fugang Geopark in Taitung has built and commissioned three charging facilities already, while the chargers installed at Wanfang Hospital in Taipei are seeing a high rate of use too.
As for its future plans, TIDC indicated that the global electric vehicle industry is just taking off. A public behavioral model for charging, parking, and payments has not yet been established and legislation is still being drafted. Parking service systems must therefore make rolling adjustments to their architecture and functionality to keep pace with market requirements. The high performance and expandability of the PE1000 edge AI system provided by ASUS IoT combined with the flexible services of ASUS MAAS will help TIDC respond quickly to market changes and supply smart parking systems that deliver both management efficiency and a quality user experience.
Taiwan International Development CO. (TIDC), ASUS MAAS, and the ASUS IoT business unit have formed a three-way partnership to develop the first all-in-one smart charger in Taiwan that combines charging, parking, and payment functions to satisfy the smart parking requirements of modern cities.