Well, here's another job made obsolete by man's technological march forward, that of the car parking guy. BMW says that it will have developed a fully automated, self-parking car within the next three years. The system draws on components already found in some of BMW's current models, including its fancy pants 7 series, and augments them accordingly. If all goes according to plan, all you'll have to do is push a button as you approach a parking spot—the car will take care of the rest.

A reflective lens is placed at the head of the parking and a video camera measures the distance and angle between the car and the lens. Then the car calculates trajectory and activates the gas pedal and steering wheel as the situation merits.

BMW is no stranger to automated car processes. Its iDrive system, though apparently a pain in the neck to operate, automated several processes like driving and cabin controls, and is already in several of its cars.

Park the Beamer by Bot [Wired]

Contact information for this author is not available.