London e-scooters to trial new level of IoT-enabled functionality

London is trialling the first of TIER Mobility’s e-scooters equipped with an in-house developed Internet of Things (IoT) module designed to make the scooters safer and easier to manage and operate.

The new ‘Parrot’ IoT module features upgraded hardware including sensors, a step change in processing power and 4G connectivity. The software enables edge-computing data analysis to take place on the scooter, rather than relying on a cloud connection. This allows for the system to respond more quickly to data from the on-board sensors, as well as analysing inputs from multiple sensors at the same time.

In addition, the new model allows TIER to significantly improve positioning and parking accuracy, as well as develop new use cases, from e-scooters being able to report when maintenance is needed further in advance, to recognising and reducing the likelihood of unsafe rider behaviours. The new module will eventually be fitted to TIER’s existing e-scooter fleet, extending the life of its vehicles and improving the rider experience.

Eryk Sokolowski, Head of Vehicle and IoT Programmes at TIER, said, “Our number one goal was to improve the safety and overall rider experience of our e-scooters through increased positioning and parking accuracy. The team has managed to significantly improve this utilising cutting edge hardware, reducing vehicle reaction times to geofenced zones and enabling a much smoother parking experience for the user.

“Additionally, introducing edge processing to this platform means that vast amounts of information and data can be analysed locally on the vehicles. This is an incredibly powerful tool that will allow us to figure out whether an e-scooter has a puncture and get it fixed, or use this data to tackle drink riding by analysing rider behaviour, all while giving us the flexibility to meet changing market and regulatory needs.”

The trial is starting in London and will expand to cities in the UK, Norway and France in the coming months. The aim is to collect data from across Europe to finalise the feature-set which will come with the full roll-out of the new module in 2023.