La Jornada – Spin teams up with Tortoise to remotely operate their scooters

San Francisco, United States. yarn, The Company from Partial mobility from Ford Motor CompanySigned a International association Exclusively with the company Turtle program To carry The Spin S-200 scooter Working remotely To cities North America and Europe in 2021.

Spin Valet allows you to remote start a Spin fleet and automatically stop scooters in seconds away from pedestrians and other traffic. The Spin Valet combines the Tortoise software with the integrated cameras on the front and rear of the S-200. This technology will allow the driver to “call” the scooter several blocks before reaching the desired location.

The first fleet of S-200s will be piloted this spring in Boise, Idaho, which will host up to 300 S-200s. This is the first time that this technology has been launched with a more powerful and stable three-wheel scooter, which can better withstand various road conditions thanks to an improved suspension. The S-200 will provide a safer driving with three independent braking systems (regenerative rear brakes, front and rear drum brakes) and intermittent (on the steering wheel and near the rear wheel).

“There has been a lot of talk about the potential of remote-controlled scooters. This partnership marks a milestone in our plans to bring it onto the streets of the city,” said Ben Bear, chief business officer for Spin. “In addition to giving consumers confidence and improving the system on urban roads, this could significantly improve unit performance, reduce carbon emissions and the operational work required to maintain and reposition fleets.”

After the scooter rider completes the ride, the remote operations team can transport the scooter (at low speed – max.3mph) if the scooter blocks the street, footpath, or designated area for people with disabilities. This technology will also allow the unit to be moved if it is parked in a place where it is unlikely to get another trip. Later this year, Spin will offer the ability to order a scooter via the app either in advance or in real time, allowing operations personnel to remotely direct any S-200 to the desired location.

Over time, scooters that have run out of expected battery power will be able to automatically head to the nearest Spin Hub to recharge.

During this year, Spin will seek to explore opportunities to bring the S-200 to cities in North America and Europe interested in remote control operations and a more powerful scooter model.

“We are glad to see our program come to life with Spin,” said Dmitry Shvilenko, co-founder and president of Tortoise. “Spin has worked tirelessly to build trust in cities around the world, and we hope that this technology will improve and improve the way cities and operators provide mobility services.”

Jointly developed by Spin and Segway-Ninebot, the S-200 is equipped with the latest in computer vision, machine learning and robotics technologies, which features an advanced visual navigation system.

“While this is a small step for Segway robotic technology to power the new generation of Spin scooters, starting with the S-2000, we believe this is an important development marking the beginning of robotic technology that can unleash the full potential of micro-mobility, in its practical and operational use. To see the true impact of the technology this pilot program will have, ”said Tony Hu, vice president of global business development at Segway.