By Scott Simmie
If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, Winter is Coming.
And if you’re a diehard cyclist, that also means you’re going to face challenges beyond the cold. Bike paths – just like the adjacent roads – can get mucked up with potholes, ice, and (like your driveway) blocked when a snowplow makes an errant dump.
In the future, cities will have a new tool at their disposal to help ensure cyclists can have the best thoroughfares possible in the depths of winter. It’s called the Street Smart Robot, and it was designed and built by the InDro Robotics engineering team at Area X.O in Ottawa. We believe it’s a great example of how robotics can help make future Smart Cities safer, more efficient, and more liveable for all of us.
It was a complex build from the ground up, requiring a lot of work on Machine Vision and obstacle detection and avoidance. Here’s a sneak peak we released while development was still underway:
FUNDING
Research and Development companies like ours are often fortunate enough to receive funding to assist with projects like these. Our concept for the Street Smart Robot caught the attention of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN). Its website describes the agency as “Ontario’s flagship initiative for the automotive and mobility sector…driving economic development and catalyzing a future that builds safer, cleaner, and more efficient transportation.”
OVIN committed $465,000 to the SSR project.
“With a world-class innovation ecosystem, Ontario continues to lead in the development of new mobility technologies and solutions,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade in our news release about the project. “InDro Robotics’ prototype Smart Street Robot represents the best of our province’s cutting-edge tech research and development that is creating solutions for real-world challenges, and we congratulate them on this milestone.”
OVIN also weighed in:
“Ontario is home to innovators and game-changers that are shaping the future of mobility on the global stage. The growth of multi-modal transportation, combined with weather-related challenges, presents a unique opportunity for Ontario companies to commercialize leading-edge solutions that make our roads safer and travel more efficient,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN. “This groundbreaking technology showcases the unparalleled caliber of Ontario SMEs in addressing significant mobility challenges—and more broadly, the province’s capacity to foster innovation and accelerate their time to market.”
NETWORKING
Robots like the SSR require more than just good sensors and compute. They also require an exceedingly reliable 5G network in order to accommodate the dense data throughput required. Here, we partnered with Rogers Communications for networking hardware and technical support.
“Rogers is proud to work alongside InDro Robotics and OVIN to improve public safety,” said Tom Turner, President, Rogers Business. “By leveraging the Rogers 5G Hybrid Wireless Private Network, we’re able to help build safer communities through real-time detection and reporting.”
Robust, high-speed networks are crucial for Smart Cities – where a multiplicity of interconnected devices will be constantly relaying data. This will be especially true as more connected and autonomous vehicles like the Street Smart Robot start sharing roadways (or bicycle paths) with people and other traffic..
“The Street Smart Robot is designed to greatly enhance the safety of bicycle lanes, particularly during winter. InDro is pleased to have partnered with Rogers and OVIN on this endeavour,” says InDro Robotics Founder/CEO Philip Reece.
Below: The SSR incorporates LiDAR and 3D depth cameras to help sense its surroundings – and to avoid cyclists, pedestrians and obstacles
INDRO’S TAKE
This is actually just the beginning of the Street Smart Robot’s journey. This is the prototype version, and we are already looking at ways to further enhance the product prior to commercial deployment. We’ve learned, for example, that while the existing tread locomotion is great for heavy snow and ice that an all-wheel drive wheeled platform will provide greater agility and speed. We are also looking at a smaller and more human-friendly form factor.
That being said, our SSR V1 has proven itself for Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM), as well as detecting hazards that could cause cyclists problems.
“Safer streets for everyone – including cyclists – are part of the Smart City of the future,” says InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “The Street Smart Robot is an important step along that road.”
We’ll have more to say about our Street Smart Robot when we release V2 in the future. So stay tuned – and, if you’re cycling, stay safe.