Design and development of a smart parking device

Abstract

Recently developed smart parking mobile applications provide their users with valuable savings in time and money, however a significant portion of parking consumers cannot use these applications as they require a smartphone. In order to serve these user groups, a new smart parking system was designed to support a standalone client device. This device can be used to remotely make parking payments without the need for a smartphone, or to display the vehicle's arrival time in free parking areas that require a parking disc. The device can also detect movement and rest in order to automatically end parking when the user's vehicle departs and to activate or deactivate the display when the user's vehicle is parked or driving to conserve battery.

This thesis documents the design and implementation of the embedded system software for the smart parking device and its interface to cloud-based services. Particular focus is given to discussion of secure and dependable service delivery and mobility detection and classification as core feature requirements of the device. Design choices, implementations, and challenges are explored and evaluated, including discussion of topics such as secure and dependable systems, embedded cryptosystems, remote firmware updates, and mobility detection and classification methods.

The smart parking device is currently available and supported for use in all Helsinki city public parking areas. It is the only remote parking payment method currently supported by the city that does not require a smartphone.