AI cameras are being used to prevent e-scooter riders from using the footpath.
In Victoria, e-scooters will now have artificial intelligence cameras to discourage riders from riding on the footpath.
Neuron Mobility has announced that they will be equipping all 1,250 e-scooters in Melbourne with AI cameras, making it a “world first” initiative.
These AI cameras can detect an e-scooter traveling on the footpath in less than a second, thanks to advanced AI computer vision technology.
Riders who attempt to ride on the footpath will receive a prompt saying, “Footpath riding detected, please ride on the road.”
If a rider is approaching pedestrians, the system will also alert them with a message to “watch out for pedestrians and slow down.”
“It will also help identify and warn riders about pedestrians in their path, as well as gather valuable data on road conditions,” the company added.
In the future, the company plans to collect data on uneven road surfaces and potholes to assist local councils in urban planning.
Neuron Mobility Australia and New Zealand’s general manager, Jayden Bryant, explained that AI technology could help reduce instances of e-scooters riding on footpaths in Melbourne.
“We are already using data from our six-month trial to enhance our enforcement efforts at critical times and locations, allowing us to be more targeted with our rider education materials to improve behavior,” he said.
Victorian Police regulations state that e-scooters must be ridden on shared-use paths or roads with a speed limit of up to 60 kilometers per hour, not on footpaths.
Riders must be at least 16 years old, wear a helmet, and not exceed a speed of 20 kilometers per hour.
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