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Ever wanted to drive near a parking space, leave your vehicle and have it park itself as you head into a store or restaurant? Volkswagen says you may be in luck in the not-too-distant future.

At the recent Hanover Fair, Volkswagen showcased a vehicle with the ability to park itself while the driver watched from outside. The Passat wagon used in the demonstration reversed itself into a parking space, turned off the engine, and locked the doors- all while the driver walked away from the vehicle.

The system simply requires the driver to press a few buttons, place the shift lever in "Park", and leave the vehicle. Though not currently available in production, Volkswagen says the system isn't too far from reality.

A camera located in each rearview mirror measure the dimensions of the parking space. This data is transmitted to a 2-GHZ computer which analyzes it, and then commands the vehicle's steering, brake and drive systems accordingly. Ultrasonic sensors ensure that no crunching takes place- and will stop the vehicle as necessary. The driver can also stop the parking maneuver with the remote. The automaker has already launched a semi-automatic system called "Park Assist" in the new and upcoming Touran, Tiguan, Passat and Passat Wagon models. It helps driver's parallel park and form the basis for a fully automatic system in the future- though no production date for the new technology has been set.