Superpedestrian Prepares for Expansion with Enhanced E-Scooter Technology

Superpedestrian, the company known for its e-scooters featuring integrated self-diagnostic capabilities, is poised to broaden its reach. A significant expansion into ten additional cities is scheduled within the coming fortnight.

A Focus on Safety Distinguishes Superpedestrian

Within the rapidly evolving micromobility sector, Superpedestrian is gaining recognition for its proactive approach to safety. The company has engineered an artificial intelligence system, directly embedded within each scooter, that actively monitors and rectifies potential safety concerns in real-time.

The next-generation operating system, internally designated “Briggs,” will be deployed across the company’s entire fleet of LINK e-scooters. This upgrade incorporates enhancements to geofencing functionality and extends battery operational life, thereby increasing Superpedestrian’s appeal to municipalities prioritizing safety and dependability.

The Shifting Dynamics of the Scooter Market

“The e-scooter market has undergone a transformation, moving from a direct-to-consumer model to one that increasingly resembles a business-to-government relationship,” observes David Zipper, a visiting fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Taubman Center. “Cities are currently limiting the number of operating concessions granted to scooter companies, intensifying competition for available contracts.”

Zipper continues, “The importance of technological advancements and strategic company positioning cannot be overstated in this evolving landscape.”

Competition for Key City Partnerships

Superpedestrian is actively vying for partnerships with major cities, including New York, which is soon to unveil the details of its e-scooter pilot program in the Bronx. Established micromobility leaders such as Bird, Lime, and Voi have also submitted proposals.

Currently, the company provides services in numerous cities across the United States – including Seattle, Oakland, San Jose, and San Diego – as well as European locations like Madrid and Rome.

A Record of Regulatory Compliance

“Our consistent 100% compliance record is highly valued by cities,” states Ross Ringham, Superpedestrian’s EMEA director of communications, in an interview with TechCrunch. “We have never faced censure, suspension, or expulsion from any of our operating markets. We firmly believe in collaborative engagement with regulators to ensure a successful and sustainable service.”

A key concern for city officials is the issue of scooters obstructing sidewalks. Superpedestrian’s ability to swiftly address sidewalk clutter or diagnose and retrieve malfunctioning scooters presents a compelling advantage.

The Vehicle Intelligent Safety (VIS) System

The LINK scooters are powered by a sophisticated Vehicle Intelligent Safety (VIS) system. This system integrates AI, 73 sensors, and five microprocessors to conduct 1,000 vehicle health assessments during every ride.

VIS operates through continuous self-monitoring and self-correction, identifying potential issues such as brake malfunctions, battery cell temperature imbalances, damaged wiring, and water ingress.

“VIS represents a significant leap forward in scooter safety, comparable to the introduction of seat belts in automobiles,” explains Ringham. “It has been refined through over four million miles of rigorous testing and real-world service since 2013, resulting in zero vehicle recalls or manufacturing defects globally.”

Enhanced Geofencing Capabilities

The latest update delivers a 22% improvement in geofence reaction time, a threefold increase in onboard geofence capacity, and a sevenfold enhancement in geofence precision.

This translates to the scooter’s improved ability to accurately identify no-ride zones, promoting rider adherence by automatically reducing speeds and restricting operation or parking in designated areas.

Real-Time, Localized Processing for Superior Performance

The speed and accuracy of LINK’s system are attributed to the fact that these calculations are performed in real-time, directly on the scooter itself. Reaction times can be as swift as 0.7 seconds, occurring within 4.6 meters of the initial geofence-related detection.

In contrast, many competing scooter companies rely on cloud computing for geofence enforcement, which can introduce delays that may fail to prevent riders from entering pedestrian zones or congested traffic areas.

A Commitment to In-House Safety Innovation

“Unlike our competitors who often utilize off-the-shelf components and white-label applications, we prioritize in-house safety development,” states Ringham. “This ensures a direct flow of information from our operations and fleet teams to our engineering teams, fostering continuous improvement.”

While companies like Bird, Atom, and Joyride offer white-label operating systems for independent rideshare launches and fleet management, few provide the dedicated safety technology found in LINK scooters.

Continuous Improvement Through Data Analysis

Engineering teams analyze detailed logs from each scooter to refine performance with every update, making the scooters progressively smarter over time, according to founder and CEO Assaf Biderman.

Furthermore, anonymized and aggregated data collected by the onboard software is shared with city partners to facilitate the design of improved infrastructure to support this emerging mode of transportation.

A Vision for Collaborative Safety

“Thanks to VIS, we can readily incorporate new ideas from our city partners,” Biderman stated. “This leads to constantly improving vehicles for riders, enhanced protection for pedestrians, and more robust safety performance for cities. Cities should expect nothing less for their citizens.”