ParkiT’s open spot detection technology is like an ‘X-ray for parking lots’

By Andrew Hard Published May 5, 2015

It’s a hectic shopping day and all you want to do is park your car and get what you need. You scurry aimlessly to find that open space, and you finally spot one.

You begin to turn the wheel as you inch closer, only to find a pint-sized Mini (it’s always a Mini, isn’t it?) hiding in the shadows of a behemoth SUV. You let out a stressful sigh, and the chase continues.

Recommended Videos

We’ve all been there. Simply finding a patch of concrete to put your vehicle shouldn’t be that stressful, but it often is. There are solutions out there, such as wireless ‘open spot’ sensors and interval counters, but they’re often inaccurate and unreliable.

A Houston, Texas-based startup called ParkiT is looking to change that by eliminating sensors altogether in favor of modern computer vision technology. Using a unique platform, ParkiT’s tech allows parking operators to monitor their lots in real-time, using a clean, web-based interface to keep vacancy information current. The software then sends information to an online app, and can even integrate with existing camera systems.

ParkiT — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Founded in March 2013 by Rice University undergrad engineering students, ParkiT’s system will also allow operators to see how their lots are used historically, which could potentially streamline future designs.

“Our proprietary technology takes advantage of modern computer vision and machine learning techniques in order to deliver accurate parking operation data with over 96% accuracy and at one-hundredth the cost of competing solutions,” reads the group’s website.

ParkiT was accepted into the OwlSpark accelerator program for startups in 2013, where the group was mentored by entrepreneurs, professionals, and other experts on how to develop new ideas. ParkiT is currently working with Rice University and other businesses around Houston on the next step.

Former Staff Writer

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Topics

Cars

How crowdsourced lidar could give your car X-ray-like superpowers

Optimus Ride using lidar.

One of my uncles always tells a story about how, when he was a kid, his mom would tell him she could see around corners. They would be out walking someplace, only for his mom to tell him the details of some vehicle or person that was about to appear around a bend in the road. A few seconds later and, sure enough, that vehicle or person would appear, exactly as described. Magic, surely?

Of course, it wasn’t magic at all: His mom -- my grandmother -- was just taller than he was, and could see over walls and other obstacles that he wasn’t able to. What appeared to be some kind of superpower was really just about having a superior vantage point.

Cars

Archer’s flying taxis head to LA for the 2028 Olympics

archer air taxi la28 inglewood aerial a final

Remember the buzz about flying taxis zipping through Paris for the 2024 Olympics? That sci-fi fantasy never got off the ground —Germany’s Volocopter dream was denied certification, leaving fans staring at the same old ground traffic. But now, the skies are opening again for a second shot at glory—this time over Los Angeles.
Archer Aviation, the California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company, has been named the exclusive air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft, a piloted electric air taxi designed to carry four passengers, will be whisking around VIPs, fans, and stakeholders between venues and key locations like LAX, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and even Orange County. Think 10-20 minute flights that skip the infamous LA gridlock and land you right where the action is—on the roof, basically.
“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation.
And Midnight isn’t just a pretty rotor. It’s a whisper-quiet, emission-light aircraft with 12 rotors and a redundant, airline-level safety design.
What’s more, Archer and LA28 are working together to electrify vertiport hubs around the city—think futuristic sky stations—to serve not only Games-time needs but also to plant seeds for a post-Olympic air mobility network.
The air mobility market has been fast developing over the past few years, featuring the likes of Hyundai partnership with China’s XPeng HT Aero and Toyota's backing of Joby Aviation, a U.S. venture. Joby bought Uber Elevate in 2020, hoping to someday pair its air taxis with Uber’s ride-hailing app.
Archer, for its part, has been busy building a strategic partnership with United Airlines, which has already placed orders for the aircraft and is helping with logistics to integrate air taxis into airport-to-downtown travel. More than a demo for the cameras, the LA28 partnership will showcase urban air travel for real-world daily use, starting with one of the most high-profile events on Earth.
After raising false hopes in Paris, the air taxi dream is aiming for liftoff in LA—and this time, it might just stick the landing.

Cars

Electric Muscle Misfire? Dodge Pulls Charger Daytona R/T from 2026 Lineup

electric muscle misfire dodge pulls charger daytona r t from 2026 lineup all new

The Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, once hailed as the vanguard of Dodge’s electric muscle car future, is being dropped for the 2026 model year.
According to a report from MoparInsiders, the Scat Pack variant will now lead the Daytona lineup, marking a significant pivot in Stellantis’ EV strategy.
Originally introduced with bold ambitions, the Charger Daytona R/T was designed to offer an accessible gateway into electric performance. With its 456-horsepower dual-motor setup and optional 509-horsepower Direct Connection stage kit, it seemed poised to excite both muscle car fans and EV newcomers. However, market realities have painted a different picture.
Industry and media reports highlight the core issue: buyers just weren’t biting. Despite its impressive specs and nostalgic design cues, the R/T struggled to justify its price tag, starting near $60,000. At that level, buyers expected either more performance or more premium features. Without strong sales traction, Dodge made the tough call to shelve the R/T variant for 2026, opting instead to focus on trims that resonate better with customers.
As we reported in December, the Charger EV was launched with an off-beat marketing message to “save the planet from self-driving sleep pods.” The goal was to retain Dodge’s brand identity—muscle, aggression, and driver engagement—even in the electric era. The Charger Daytona R/T was supposed to be the perfect balance of price and performance, but it seems the target audience wasn’t ready to make that leap at that price.
Importantly, this doesn’t spell the end of the Charger Daytona altogether. Higher-performance models like the Scat Pack and Banshee are still in the pipeline and, interestingly, are being adjusted for price competitiveness. Several trims are reportedly seeing price cuts, suggesting Stellantis is serious about making these vehicles more appealing and accessible.
For enthusiasts, the takeaway is clear: the electric muscle car isn’t going anywhere, but automakers are still figuring out how to sell it. The demise of the R/T is less a failure and more a recalibration—proof that even the boldest plans need to stay flexible in the face of consumer demand.