Leo PortalNorthampton is pioneering a pilot program employing computer vision technology to address pedestrian safety and regulate e-scooter usage. In collaboration with Luna Systems, Voi Technology aims to mitigate sidewalk riding and improper parking through onboard cameras and algorithmic analysis. This initiative reflects a proactive approach to urban mobility challenges, aligning with broader efforts to ensure safe and efficient transportation systems. The phased rollout of the trial, beginning with a managed user group and expanding citywide, underscores the commitment to thorough testing and evaluation. Voi’s focus on safety standards and compliance underscores the seriousness with which stakeholders approach this endeavor. Data collected from the trial will be shared with Northampton Borough Council to inform future policy decisions. Luna Systems’ involvement reflects a broader industry trend towards technological solutions for urban transportation challenges. By leveraging computer vision technology, this pilot program seeks to establish a framework for responsible e-scooter usage, contributing to the overall safety and sustainability of urban environments.
Enhancing Urban Mobility: Voi and Luna’s Pilot Program Utilizing Computer Vision for E-Scooter Regulation and Pedestrian Safety
Using technology from British start-up Luna Systems, Swedish e-scooter operator Voi Technology is running a massive computer vision trial in Northampton.
The pilot program aims to create e-scooters that can recognize when they are being driven on sidewalks rather than on roads or when their parking is unsuitable. On-board” bright cameras” created by Luna and Voi track the environment in which the scooter is being used and compare it to an algorithm fed with Northampton street footage.
According to Voi, a scooter will sound an alarm and, depending on the outcomes of the pilot program, may actually quickly slow down if it notices that it is being used on an elevated path. Users will also be directed to park in designated “virtual racks” by these e-scooters, saving them from having to obstruct bike paths or rack areas.
Voi’s E-Scooter Pilot Program: Expanding Pedestrian Safety Measures from Stockholm to Northampton and Beyond
In Northampton, where Voi has an exclusive license to operate e-scooters, the trial’s first phase will start this month using a managed user group. About 100 cameras will be mounted on e-scooters from the city’s current open fleet during the second phase. Before the Northampton trial, some initial testing was conducted in Stockholm.
Due to legal restrictions, Voi does not already operate in Ireland, but when the law permits, it has stated a desire to do so. The Government approved a plan to draft legislation that would allow the use of e-scooters on European roads in February.
Setting New Safety Standards: Voi and Luna Collaborate on World-First Pilot for Enhanced E-Scooter Safety
In response to the pilot’s announcement, Voi CEO Fredrik Hjelm stated that” this world-first pilot will set new standards of safety for this new form of transport.” After assisting riders on more than 60-meter rides across Europe, we have a thorough understanding of the problems with e-scooter safety and are constantly looking for ways to improve.
As we hope to expand our award-winning fleet into Ireland, we are delighted to be working with the team in Luna on this crucial pilot.” We are quite pleased to have been the first e-scooter operator to incorporate the computer vision technology at scale for the benefit of our riders, pedestrians, and authorities.
In order to better understand where and when e-scooters are being used as transportation in the city, Voi added that data from the trial would be shared with Northampton Borough Council.
With this trial, we look forward to demonstrating how computer vision-equipped e-scooters can make a real difference to rider compliance and sidewalk riding behavior in cities, according to Andrew Fleury, CEO of Luna Systems.
It’s wonderful to be working with quite a safety conscious operator as Voi in order to develop market-ready solutions, as we’ve noticed cities all over the world asking for technological solutions to problems like pavement riding.
Luna has received funding from Brian O’Driscoll and is also collaborating with Zipp Mobility, an British e-scooter startup. Luna will participate in another computer vision e-scooter trial with Dublin City University, scooter operator Tier, and Science Foundation Ireland’s Insight research center, it was announced in April.
