Autonomous vehicles or self-driving vehicles aim to minimize the need for human drivers and look poised to transform everyday transportation. Fleets of AVs expand the scope of last-mile deliveries, reduce downtime, and aim to make public transportation relatively safer. For example, by reducing accidents caused due to driver fatigue or negligence. AVs are equipped with advanced recognition technologies, such as AI-enhanced computer vision to identify obstacles along the route.
Some of the technologies introduced by start-ups are-
Intvo
The US-based start-up, Intvo develops a pedestrian behaviour prediction technology. Unlike two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) object detection technologies that consider limited parameters, their solution checks for head position, eye contact, and leg movements of the pedestrians, weather conditions, and assigns a risk level. This reduces false positives in pedestrian detection and enhances the safety of autonomous vehicles.
Udelv
The US-based start-up Udelv provides autonomous vehicles for last-mile deliveries. It combines advanced AI algorithms and hyper-speed teleoperations for human-assisted guidance in unique situations. The start-up’s vans have a payload capacity of approx. 360 kg (800+ lbs) and reach speeds up to approx. 100 km/h (60 mi/h). The vans deliver groceries from nearby stores and send out a push notification when the order arrives.
Lordstown Motors
The US-based Start-up Lordstown Motors Corps makes an all-electric pickup truck. The truck, Endurance TM, is designed to be a sturdy work vehicle and comes with fewer moving parts compared to traditional commercial vehicles, thus enabling easier maintenance. It features 4 hub electric motors to provide a four-wheel drive and is capable of traveling more than 250 miles (400 km) on a single charge
ChargeX
German start-up ChargeX offers a modular EV charging solution that converts parking spaces into charging stations. The start-up’s platform, Aqueduct, is easy to install, has 4 charging modules with up to 22kW, provides monthly reports, and uses a Type 2 charging cable. The solution recognizes the power requirements of every car and automatically controls the charging speed for each vehicle.
Beam
Singapore-based start-up Beam focuses on e-scooters to promote shared mobility in the Asia-Pacific region. Their scooters use an aviation-grade aluminium frame and are customized for sharing, safety, reliability, and durability. Users discover the nearest Beam scooter on the app and park it in visible public spots after the ride. Further, the micro-mobility platform offers a sustainable alternative to short-distance rides and helps regulate traffic flow in cities.