ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Beep – a
global leader in multi-passenger, electric, autonomous mobility
solutions – today released ridership results following
the highly-successful completion of Yellowstone National Park's first-ever
autonomous shuttle program T.E.D.D.Y. (The Electric Driverless
Demonstration in Yellowstone), named as an ode to Teddy Roosevelt. The shuttle pilot enabled the
National Park Service to test the feasibility and sustainability of
autonomous mobility in a national park.
"During the project we were
able to validate, in partnership with the National Park Service,
that Beep's turnkey autonomous mobility solutions and safety-first
approach delivers environmentally-friendly transportation options
for thousands of national park visitors. The most striking result
was the high number of riders who experienced the project – and
their confidence in the technology as a means of accessing a number
of destinations in the park. In this day and age, when there is
still apprehension across the general public on the realities
surrounding autonomous vehicle use, we demonstrated how to elevate
safety, implement new technologies in real-world environments and
steadily progress society toward trustworthy autonomous mobility
solutions." – Joe Moye, Beep,
CEO
For this project, Beep delivered a unique rider experience
through a partnership with Local Motors, which manufacturers Olli,
the world's first 3D-printed autonomous vehicle. With safety as a
top priority, Olli used high-definition sensors to continually
analyze the road 360-degrees around the vehicle before deciding how
to safely proceed in the presence of wildlife, pedestrians and
vehicles. All shuttles were operated with an on-board attendant,
and Beep further ensured passenger safety by providing continuous
oversight through the Beep Command Center at its headquarters in
Lake Nona, Florida.
"The results of the Yellowstone
project, total mileage, insights from riders and new learnings for
the autonomous system are very encouraging. Projects like this give
Local Motors confidence as we expand to offer longer routes in more
complex settings. Partnering with Beep helps us deliver the value
of autonomous vehicles and demonstrate step-wise improvements in
today's AV technology." – Vikrant
Aggarwal, Local Motors, CEO
Safe, Trusted Service For Thousands of Visitors
The
project consisted of Olli shuttles operating across two routes
between June 9 and Aug. 31 for seven
days a week – collecting vital information including ridership,
route optimization, vehicle operations and overall ride experience.
Data collected, and other learnings from the project, are helping
the NPS plan potential future developments of autonomous vehicle
operations at parks across the country.
- The NPS selected Yellowstone, the nation's first national park,
due to its popularity and remote location. Yellowstone remains the
sixth most visited national park in the country and receives more
than four million visits annually. For this project, the shuttles
provided passengers safe and direct access to key destinations
which included visitor services, lodging, campgrounds and other
locations with limited parking.
About Beep
Beep delivers the next generation of
mobility services utilizing driverless, electric, multi-passenger
vehicles. By specializing in planning, deploying and managing
advanced autonomous shuttles for both private and public
communities, Beep safely connects people, places and services in
first-mile, last-mile mobility networks. Beep also leverages
the data and learnings from its public road deployments to produce
vehicle agnostic, edge solutions meant to enhance safety, access,
artificial-intelligence and driverless operating capabilities of
autonomous platforms. Beep delivers on a primary goal of
enabling mobility-for-all with the services and software they
provide. For more information visit: www.ridebeep.com
About Local Motors
Local Motors is the leading
full-stack developer of purpose-built autonomous shuttles.
Designed specifically for low-speed applications, the company's
current platform, Olli, delivers an exceptional mobility solution
with class-leading safety, range and rider experience. By
leveraging direct digital manufacturing (3D Printing) and
microfactories, LM can reduce design and manufacturing costs, and
introduce new vehicles in months, not years. Learn more:
localmotors.com
Contact: Beep Corporate Communications
310.374.6177
BEEP@GoDRIVEN360.com
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SOURCE Beep, Inc.