Superpedestrian Acquires Navmatic - E-Scooter Safety Tech

Superpedestrian Acquires Navmatic to Enhance Scooter Safety Systems

Electric scooter company Superpedestrian has completed the acquisition of Navmatic, a startup specializing in real-time vehicle localization and movement correction for micromobility operators.

The financial specifics of the deal, finalized last month, remain undisclosed. However, sources familiar with the transaction suggest the amount closely aligns with Navmatic’s previous seed funding round of $4 million, secured in June of last year.

Introducing Pedestrian Defense

This acquisition allows Superpedestrian to integrate Navmatic’s Super Fusion technology, significantly improving its vehicle safety features.

The resulting system, named Pedestrian Defense, is designed to identify unsafe riding practices. These include riding against traffic flow, erratic swerving, operating on sidewalks, or frequent, abrupt braking.

The system responds by either alerting the rider or actively adjusting the scooter’s speed or bringing it to a stop. Riders will also receive a safety score after each trip, influencing customized safety training, potential discounts, or even restrictions for consistently unsafe behavior.

A Shift Towards Proactive Safety Measures

As concerns regarding scooter-related accidents grow, companies like Spin and Voi are also implementing technologies to improve rider compliance and pedestrian safety.

While Spin and Voi are focusing on computer vision solutions from companies like Drover AI and Luna, Superpedestrian is leveraging Navmatic’s expertise in precise positioning software. Unlike Superpedestrian, Spin and Voi’s systems rely on cameras to detect pedestrians.

Superpedestrian’s approach centers on analyzing subtle data points from the scooter’s movements to understand rider behavior.

The Importance of Precise Data

“Protecting vulnerable road users – pedestrians, individuals with disabilities, and those with strollers – is paramount,” stated Assaf Biderman, CEO of Superpedestrian, in an interview with TechCrunch.

“Achieving this requires accurate location data, a detailed understanding of rider behavior, and contextual awareness, such as whether the rider is obstructing pedestrian pathways. A camera isn’t necessary if the data is properly analyzed.”

Superpedestrian integrates Navmatic’s software with a microprocessor on its LINK scooters’ operating system, utilizing its mapping data. This software is trained using various sensors, including vision for ground truth and high-definition maps.

During operation, real-time computations analyze data from the scooter, combining GPS information, inertial measurements, and vehicle dynamics to determine precise location and movement.

Enhanced Location Accuracy and Response Time

“Navmatic’s software has dramatically improved location detection,” Biderman explained. “This allows us to analyze the minute motions of a scooter or similar vehicle with greater accuracy. Our response time is now approximately 0.7 seconds.”

Paul White, Director of Development and Public Affairs at Superpedestrian, indicated that the vehicle’s location accuracy has improved by 70% to 90%, depending on environmental conditions.

Both companies believe that this level of precision, combined with vehicle control capabilities, offers a superior and more scalable solution compared to relying solely on vision-based systems.

Sensor Fusion: A Cost-Effective Approach

“Implementing a $1,000 or $2,000 lidar system on a scooter isn’t feasible,” Biderman pointed out. “Sensor fusion overcomes the limitations of both vision – which struggles in low light or when obscured – and GPS – which can be affected by reflections and shadows. Combining multiple sensors provides the benefits of each, continuously learning and improving.”

While Drover AI and Luna also enable scooter operators to adjust rider movements based on collected data, these capabilities aren’t universally deployed across all cities where Spin and Voi operate. Navmatic’s chip operates within the scooter’s operating system, while Drover AI utilizes a separate IoT unit communicating with the scooter’s OS.

Spin is currently piloting this capability in Santa Monica, and Voi has tested Luna’s technology in Cambridge, providing audible alerts to riders on sidewalks and exploring the possibility of slowing down scooters.

Full Stack Control: A Key Advantage

Superpedestrian emphasizes its advantage of owning the entire technology stack, from the operating system to the hardware, unlike competitors who rely on off-the-shelf systems.

“We encountered significant integration challenges with other companies, as even minor code changes required contacting the manufacturer, often resulting in week-long delays,” stated Boaz Mamo, CEO and founder of Navmatic.

A Strategic Acquisition for the Future

Superpedestrian’s software-centric approach to this acquisition also appealed to Dan Herscovici, a partner at Edison Partners, one of the company’s investors.

“Most scooter acquisitions focus on market share,” Herscovici noted. “It’s less common to see micromobility companies prioritize intellectual property and technology to enhance the vehicle itself.”

Herscovici explained that Superpedestrian evaluated numerous solutions for pedestrian safety and city compliance, even considering internal development. However, acquiring Navmatic proved to be the most efficient path forward, given the urgency of meeting regulatory requirements and avoiding potential permit losses.

“The micromobility landscape revolves around three key stakeholders: the rider, the city, and, most importantly, the non-rider – those sharing the road,” Herscovici said. “The industry has been seeking a way to modify rider behavior based on safety regulations, and this acquisition unlocks that potential.”

Mamo added that Pedestrian Defense will provide cities with valuable insights into rider travel patterns, aiding in infrastructure planning.

Deployment and Future Plans

Biderman announced that Superpedestrian plans to manufacture approximately 50,000 scooters this year, with all new vehicles incorporating the upgraded technology starting in December. The company will then deploy these vehicles in new cities and gradually replace older models in existing markets.

This article has been updated to reflect correct information about the capabilities behind Drover AI and Luna technology.