Neuron is equipping all of its electric scooters in Melbourne with AI-enabled cameras that detect when they are being driven on sidewalks.
This makes Neuron the first operator globally to deploy a full fleet of electric scooters equipped with AI camera technology in a major city.
Neuron electric scooter in Melbourne, Australia
© Neuron
The multi-million dollar investment will see 1,250 of Melbourne’s Neuron electric scooters equipped with AI-powered front-facing cameras.
The ScootSafe Vision system uses AI computer vision to detect when riding on sidewalks and provides real-time warnings using the e-scooter’s voice guidance and can also be set to slow down the e-scooter until it leaves the sidewalk.
For added safety, the system also warns the rider if pedestrians are in the path of the vehicle.
In the future, the cameras could also be used to collect data on road irregularities and potholes to inform speed limits and urban planning.
Neuron’s ScootSafe Vision system is developed in-house, and Melbourne’s test fleet has already completed more than 30,000 kilometres, training the technology to recognise the city’s roads and footpaths.
Currently, the system detects whether an e-scooter is on the sidewalk in less than a second.
During testing, when riding on the sidewalk was detected and an audio warning was issued, nearly all offending cyclists quickly returned to the side of the road, bike lane or approved shared path.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Neuron Mobility to bring this technology to the market,” said Jaden Bryant, general manager for Australia and New Zealand at Neuron Mobility.
We’re excited to announce a significant investment in AI-powered cameras that will be added to Melbourne’s entire fleet of e-scooters in the coming months. Six months of trials have shown that our ScootSafe Vision system has the potential to significantly reduce footpath riding, and we’ve committed to the Council to invest in it early, even before the trial phase ends.
