Bird Scooters Detect Sidewalk Riding, Enhance Safety

Bird Introduces Advanced Scooter Safety Technology

Micromobility provider Bird is integrating ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) technology into its scooters. Following a three-year research period, the company has unveiled a system capable of identifying when a scooter is being operated on a sidewalk and gently decelerating it.

Initial Rollout and Future Expansion

Currently, this new technology is undergoing testing on hundreds of scooters in Milwaukee and San Diego. Expansion is planned for Madrid in the early stages of next year, with further deployments anticipated across numerous cities globally in the coming months. Bird anticipates producing “tens or hundreds of thousands” of scooters equipped with sidewalk detection capabilities before the beginning of next year, according to Scott Rushforth, the company’s chief vehicle officer.

Collaboration with u-blox

This innovative feature, designed to address a prevalent safety concern in cities utilizing shared micromobility services, was developed in partnership with u-blox, a Swiss firm specializing in wireless semiconductors and high-precision positioning modules. The collaboration resulted in a customized version of u-blox’s ZED-F9R module, specifically tailored for the shared micromobility sector, as stated by Bird.

The Technology Behind Sidewalk Detection

The system leverages data from GPS sensors, utilizing a dual-band configuration for optimal performance. Furthermore, it incorporates RTK (Real-Time Kinematics) and sensor fusion. “We’ve added on top of that a system that uses sensor fusion that takes all this data together as well as data from the vehicle itself, like how far the wheel has gone or the angle the scooter is leaning and infuses it with the GPS location,” Rushforth explained to TechCrunch. This integration provides an exceptionally accurate understanding of the scooter’s location, even in areas with weak GPS signals.

Rider Alerts and Automated Slowdown

When a scooter enters a sidewalk area, riders will receive both audible and visual warnings through the mobile application and a newly implemented 16-bit color display. Subsequently, the scooter will automatically disengage the throttle and come to a controlled stop.

Two Approaches to Rider-Assistance Systems

Bird has been investigating sidewalk detection technologies since 2019, and is not alone in this pursuit. The micromobility industry appears to be diverging into two primary approaches. The first focuses on highly accurate positioning and sensor fusion to identify and correct unsafe riding behaviors in real-time. Superpedestrian recently acquired Navmatic to integrate similar positioning software into its LINK scooters, with full implementation expected by December.

Camera-Based Systems as an Alternative

The second approach, adopted by companies like Spin, Voi, and Helbiz, involves utilizing cameras in conjunction with startups such as Drover AI and Luna to detect sidewalks, bike lanes, and pedestrians.

The Race for Safety in Micromobility

A spokesperson from Superpedestrian commented to TechCrunch, “It’s a very good thing that there is now a micromobility race to the top on safety.” They added that Bird has arrived at the same conclusion as Superpedestrian: that vision-based systems have limitations in terms of the behaviors they can detect and their scalability.

Addressing Concerns About GPS Limitations

Some proponents of computer vision argue that location-based ADAS is ineffective in areas lacking GPS coverage, such as urban canyons or parking garages. However, Rushforth disputes this claim. He highlights u-blox’s module’s advanced dead reckoning capabilities, which estimate the vehicle’s position based on previously known locations and sensor data. Even without a GPS signal, the system can calculate the distance and direction traveled.

Data Processing and Accuracy

The module processes data including wheel speed, acceleration, spatial orientation, and kinematics, fusing it to achieve a highly accurate location and centimeter-level mapping. This information is then relayed to Bird OS, the company’s proprietary operating system, which determines the appropriate action.

Benefits Beyond Sidewalk Detection

This technology not only ensures Bird scooters remain within designated geofenced areas but also enhances a range of related features. Increased positioning accuracy improves the overall user experience.

Improved Parking Accuracy

“If you’re in an area where the GPS by itself, without all this added technology, is kind of just OK, you might be outside the parking corral and the vehicle might think it’s inside, so this higher precision will absolutely improve the experience for parking,” Rushforth stated.

Operational Efficiencies

The enhanced accuracy also promises significant benefits for micromobility operations, a major cost factor for these companies. Locating scooters becomes faster and easier, reducing the time spent searching for vehicles that may be obscured or incorrectly positioned on GPS maps.

Cost-Effectiveness and Scalability

“I would say our whole business is going to get better in measurable ways across the board, because so much of it relies on knowing exactly where the vehicles are,” Rushforth said.

Why This Solution Was Chosen

Bird evaluated alternative solutions, including camera-based and ultra-wideband technologies, but ultimately determined this approach offered the best scalability. “Now we have a solution that we don’t have to train very much,” Rushforth explained. “All we have to do is go in our back end and show where the sidewalks are, and then we can scale this very quickly, and we’re only spending probably about $10 or $12 more per vehicle.”

Cost Comparison with Camera Systems

Camera-based systems, in contrast, require an initial investment of approximately $200 per vehicle for hardware and services, potentially decreasing to $80 per vehicle over time. This remains a substantial cost for companies striving for profitability.

Future Industry Adoption

“If I had a crystal ball, I would say that everyone will copy us with this over the next 24 months because this is the only way to do it in a cost-effective manner,” Rushforth concluded.

This article has been updated to include more information and commentary from Superpedestrian.