An autonomous robotic system for e-scooter distribution and management.
Jacob (21) is a college student who is passionate about environmental responsibility. Keeping up with his busy schedule and full social life can make getting around sustainably and reliably a challenge.
Needs:
- Eco-friendly transportation options
- Efficient ways to get around
Frustrations:
- Cars are often bad for the environment
- Public transportation is not always reliable or efficient
Jacob is looking for an eco-friendly way to get around his city.
Stacy (29) is a working professional looking to save money where she can. Owning a vehicle is expensive and isn't the best option for her city commute to work, but the public transportation in her area is unreliable.
Needs:
- In budget timely way to work
- Transportation that won't mess up her work clothes
Frustrations:
- Cars are expensive to buy and maintain
- Public transportation is not always reliable or efficient
Stacy is looking for a cheaper but reliable way to get to work.
David (46) has been a mechanic for many years. He wants a flexible gig in the city that will help pay the bills while allowing him to spend more time with his family.
Needs:
- Flexible work environment
- Reliable expectations and pay
Frustrations:
- Poor communication from employers
- Rigid hours that keep him away from his family
David is looking for a source of supplemental income with flexible hours.
Conducted secondary research around the potential impacts our project could have in three different areas.
- Scooters can be distributed more intentionally to ensure equitable access to micro mobility options.
- If scooter usage increases, abundant parking lots can be repurposed into housing, community, and green spaces.
- E-scooter usage as an alternative to personal automobile travel results in a net reduction in negative environmental impacts.
- Collecting the scooters autonomously with an electric robot reduces emissions involved in driving for charging and maintenance.
- Increasing the lifetime of each scooter reduces the amount of waste per unit.
- Electric micro mobility devices can help to close the first and last mile gaps to transit and can offer individuals greater access to jobs, health care, and other services.
- Scooters can help to expand travel options for underserved communities because of their lower upfront and operating costs compared to traditional vehicles
-Centralizing the scooter system could help facilitate effective government regulation
An audit of emerging and existing technologies relevant to our final project.
Simultaneous Localization and Movement allows for orientation within a set space and the identification of obstacles.
Geofencing sets boundaries and shares info if these boundaries are crossed.
Internet of Things creates a network of units to collect and share data.
2D Mapping uses software to map an area of operation: pathways, zones, etc.
High voltage batteries reduce cable weight. Newer scooters can have up to 40 miles in range. Faster battery charging speeds.
Wheels must be able to accommodate docking procedure. Will likely use omni / multi-directional wheels.
Autonomous pallet docking robots are the closest analog we could find.
Trained AI to recognize traffic, pedestrians, obstructions, etc. Use for accessibility analysis and deliberation.
One of our team's final deliverables was a video showcasing the final project. This animation was created with TwinMotion, KeyShot, Adobe AfterEffects, and Procreate.
