Airport Rolls Out Robot Valets That Park Your Car for YouAutoblogDan MihalascuSat, September 19, 2026 at 2:15 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleAutoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The capabilities of robots have advanced tremendously in recent years, with tech giants currently involved in a tight race to get a head start in the robot-making business.We've seen robots demonstrate their many "talents" in areas like precision manufacturing, warehouse sorting, surgeries, deep-sea and disaster rescue, space exploration, commercial aerial drone, self-driving vehicles, and much more.The Robots Are Essentially Fully Autonomous Forklift Trucks For CarsNow it appears that people have found a new use for robots, namely parking cars. In order to speed up parking and fast track passengers at its south terminal, London's Gatwick airport has started to introduce robots to park people's cars.AdvertisementAdvertisementDescribed as "the first robotic airport parking service in the UK," the Official Gatwick Airport Robotic Parking is said to help passengers park closer to the terminal in an effortless manner. To use the service, drivers must drop off their cars in a private, secure garage, from where the airport's state-of-the-art robots take over. The airport says the robots "will gently lift your car from underneath the wheels and park it for you in a safe, access-restricted parking area."Essentially, the robots work like fully autonomous forklift trucks that carry vehicles instead of boxes, parts and raw materials. Mind you, the only point of contact with the vehicle is on the tires, as the robots use handles to grab around the rubber. That means the chassis remains untouched and people can lock their cars and take the keys after dropping their cars off in the garage.They Can Park 95% Of All Vehicle ModelsSky News / YouTubeThe robots are compatible with 95% of all vehicle models, which means there are some exceptions. Those include vehicles with unusual dimensions or features, such as extra-long vehicles (pickup trucks, vehicles towing trailers, or other vehicles with a wheelbase longer than 10.8 feet), extra-tall vehicles (over 7.5 feet tall, including those fitted with roof boxes, bicycle carriers, or similar accessories), vehicles with low ground clearance (under 4.7 inches), and vehicles weighing more than 5,732 pounds.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor example, models that are not compatible with the system include the Bentley Continental GT, Ford Ranger, Range Rover Sport Hybrid, and the Renault Trafic Van.Sky News tested the service and found it convenient to use and efficient. The robots ignore markings so they can park the cars very close to one another, making better use of the available space. Of course, some people are wondering whether it's right to add more tech to airports when glitches already occur, but Stanley Robotics, the company that makes them, says that if there's a malfunction, the robots will simply stop and "won't get crazy and try to damage cars." Does that sound reassuring enough to you?If it does, you should also know that the robotic parking area is protected by perimeter fencing, floodlighting and 24-hour security patrols, while automatic number plate recognition monitors all vehicles entering and leaving the site. This added safety component will likely be a bonus many customers will appreciate.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.