Intelligent and automated models drive car park management systems line

	Shenzhen Semtong’s Spod Yinjian series is an intelligent car park management system that features CAN communication technology.

Automatic parking guidance and electronic toll collection enhance car park management system releases.

China suppliers of car park management systems are focusing development efforts on intelligent, automated versions to improve product efficiency. Toward this end, new technologies such as automatic vehicle identification and parking guidance, and advanced toll collection are introduced in current setups.

To enable these functions, recent models adopt
32-bit Arm 7 processors to accelerate the processing speed and integrate complex applications. The system bus is also upgraded, with makers employing CAN or TCP/IP instead of
EIA-485. These advanced variants are designed for large-scale car park management networks for their expandability, higher bandwidth and faster response time.

Upscale releases support vehicle plate recognition, vacant parking space guidance and auto-balance. Customized units or additional functions can be added on request. Shenzhen Fujica Intelligentized System Co. Ltd has developed an automatic parking guidance setup that comprises a parking space detector, lane and area controller, guidance screen and PC terminal. It can analyze parking space status in different areas and match this with vehicle entering/exiting information, and then send the data to the PC terminal and guidance screen.

Another product development trend points to electronic toll collection. Based on RFID technology, the application is offered as an optional function by most vendors. The CA-ZC0110 model from Shenzhen Carsafe Technology Development Co. Ltd, for instance, is a self-service toll station that works with different paper and coin currencies. The system supports changing and note printing functions and recharges monthly, yearly or temporary cards. It has a 17in LCD screen and runs on TCP/IP for remote management.

To enhance system reliability and stability, suppliers are optimizing hardware structure and software capability. Most initiatives in the latter aspect involve enabling user-friendly operation and highly flexible configurations to allow expansion and integration.

Under efforts to complement these improvements, aesthetics and user interface are likewise upgraded. Companies are incorporating LED or LCD screens to display data. Other releases have voice and text prompts, and intercom functions.

	Shenzhen Newabel offers a dispenser that works with both thin and thick RF cards made from paper or PVC.

Considering the low cost and widespread use of the former card type, some vendors are upgrading reader designs to widen the transmission coverage. These variants still work on 125kHz and are compatible with different electromagnetic and compatible cards, but the reading distance has been extended to 500 to 600mm for standard cards and 600 to 800mm for thicker alternatives.

As for ID and IC readers, China makers are introducing long-distance RFID technologies to improve the range. These applications boast UHF or UWF and 5m coverage. Some products allow nonstop access control because of their fast processing speeds.

Models running on the passive mode support 902 to 928MHz or 865 to 868MHz and are compatible with ISO 18000-6B/C (EPC GEN2) standards. These solutions enable 1 to 5m or 5 to 10m reading distances for intermediate and long-distance variants depending on power output and antenna gain. The typical coverage range is less than 8m, with nonstop access control and electronic toll collection. Some companies offer versions with customized frequency bands. Upscale products work on active mode, 2.4GHz, and boast private communication protocol. These operate within 3 to 15m or beyond. Nonstop access control and electronic toll collection are standard features.

Outside of RFID, China suppliers are exploring combination Bluetooth and infrared technologies for identity verification and vehicle tag detection. In such solutions, signal transmissions using the former are automatically activated once an IR module alerts to a vehicle tag entering the designated area. Benefitting from the stable data sending operation of the first and the precise orientation of IR signals, this setup aids in reducing interferences between adjacent channels.

The application supports 433MHz working frequency and adjustable reading distances between 3 and 15m. An example of this system is the SRF-234A model from Shenzhen Semtong Technologies Co. Ltd. It allows nonstop access control at up to 60km/hr speed. The unit features multiple communication interfaces such as Weigand 26 and 34, and EIA-485. It also comes with matched IR tags in different designs.

Most makers forecast electromagnetic options and their variants will continue to dominate the mainstream despite the launch of long-distance solutions. The price of the latter is still a deterrent for most buyers. For passive long-distance models running on 902 to 928MHz and compatible with ISO 18000-6B/C standards, the reader is quoted at $200 to $400 and the matching card or tag $0.50 to $0.60. Meanwhile, an enhanced electromagnetic card reader lists from $40 to $50 and its card is about $0.10 to $0.20. In active long-distance solutions, the prices are two and ten times higher for the readers and cards, respectively.

	The model T6 portal station from Shenzhen Fujica has a transmission distance of about 10cm.

CCTV surveillance systems set up at the entrance and exit points form the basic configuration of mainstream car park management systems from China. These can capture images of vehicles as they enter and leave the area. High-end designs are equipped with license plate recognition function for assisted verification. Some subsystems are interconnected to CCTV surveillance devices within the car park to prevent theft and hit-and-run incidences.

Upscale options have several modules, portal controllers, vehicle detectors and barrier gates, RFID readers, cards and dispensers, control host, software clients and other accessories. The portal controller, card dispenser and RFID reader are integrated into the portal/exit station. A CCTV surveillance system, parking space detector and guidance setup, and toll collection subsystem can be added. Manufacturers can also provide paper ticket dispenser or magnetic card systems.

Traditional large models use MCUs as the central processor and EIA-485 bus. Units adopt water- and dust-resistant designs. Protection against EMI, current surge and lightning is likewise enabled.

Prices of car park management systems are determined by the scale and functions. Quotes for barrier gates range from $100 to $500 depending on the materials used, structure and dimensions. Basic portal/exit stations featuring built-in electromagnetic card readers list at $100. High-end models with long-distance RFID readers start at $500. Card dispensers and retrievers require an additional $100 to 200, while vehicle detectors are optional for $30 to $100 extra.

There are currently 200 to 300 makers of car park management systems in China, about 80 percent of which are concentrated in Guangdong province. The main export destinations are Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America. Given the high installation and maintenance costs, most suppliers ship individual products or modules instead of the complete package. Systems for these areas are usually compact, easy-to-integrate models with practical functions.

Related article:
Car park management systems: Modular designs emphasized

Shenzhen Carsafe Technology Development Co. Ltd

Model: CA-DU0179
Description: Barrier gate; rapid reducer-motor mechanism; worm-gear reducer and DC motor with 200W rated consumption; 1.5 to 6s rise/descend time, adjustable by controller

Shenzhen Fujica Intelligentized System Co. Ltd

Model: FJC-D618B
Description: Barrier gate; modular design; 250W power output; straight rail, aluminum-alloy type; 3.5s fast, 6s standard rail lifting time; 4.5m fast, 6m standard rail length; ≥5,000,000 times MCBF

Shenzhen Fujica Intelligentized System Co. Ltd

Model: T6
Description: Portal station; EIA-485 base, TCP/IP rear communication modes, 1,200m EIA-485 transmission distance; ≤0.2s IC card read/write speed, ≤10cm distance; ≤0.2s card read/write speed, ≤10cm RF distance

Shenzhen Newabel Electronic Co. Ltd

Model: CHD-DMDX-L013
Description: Portal station; controlling box and vehicle barrier suitable for CHD proximity and long-distance cards, and bar-code ticketing management; galvanized steel cold rolling body, powder painting surface; water, rust-resistant; 220VAC/150W vehicle barrier power; -20 to 85 C operating temperature; 5 to 95% RH

Shenzhen Semtong Technologies Co. Ltd

Model: SP-5060 Spod Yinjian series
Description: Portal station; Wiegand interface; 78x58mm paper tickets; half-, full-cutting method; ≤140mm roll diameter; 2 or 4-channel image control; Windows 2000, Database SQL 2000; 1,200m/10km communication distance; ≤80mm IC card reading distance; 200,000+ card download capacity