Doesn’t look like a typical New York sidewalk.
Spin today announced an exclusive partnership with Drover AI to incorporate their PathPilot technology into the next generation of the Spin Insight e-scooter monitoring platform to cities in the United States, across the United Kingdom and other regions around the world in 2021.
“With nearly all municipalities prohibiting scooter use on sidewalks, Spin Insight data— in combination with Spin’s in-app mapping technology that enables riders to find routes that maximize bike lane use— can be used as a key tool by cities to help enforce local regulations and promote safe riding behaviors in dense, urban environments like New York City,” said Derrick Ko, Chief Executive Officer at Spin.
The micro-mobility part of Ford Motor Company claims Spin Insight Level 2 with Drover AI’s computer vision and machine learning platform, equips Spin’s vehicles with a camera, an array of sensors, and on-board computing power. Spin claims Drover’s technology is highly adaptive and easily scaled to new environments, allowing an e-scooter to” understand its surroundings in real time and assist riders in making safe riding decisions.” Not a word was mentioned of potential privacy or legal issues or who owns the customer data produced and how it will be used. Future capabilities planned include detecting wrong-way riding, adjusting vehicle speed based on riding conditions, and collision warnings. Continue reading →
New LG and Magna Joint Venture in Powertrain Electrification
Chevrolet Bolt EVs and Sonics are assembled at a GM plant in Orion Township, Michigan.
LG Electronics and Magna International said today that they have a proposed joint venture to manufacture e-motors, inverters and on-board chargers and, for un-named automakers, e-drive systems to support the growing global shift toward vehicle electrification. The transaction is expected to close in July of 2021, subject to several conditions including obtaining LG shareholder approval and all necessary regulatory approvals. The question in AutoInformed’s opinion is to how many electrification parts and services will be brought in-house by automakers and how much will go to suppliers?
The new company, tentatively called LG Magna e-Powertrain, is said to combine Magna’s strength in electric powertrain systems and automotive manufacturing with LG’s expertise in component development for e-motors and inverters. The stated goal is to hasten both partners’ growth in the electric powertrain market. The market for e-motors, inverters and electric drive systems is expected to have significant growth between now and 2030, and the JV will target this fast-growing global segment. Continue reading →