OTTAWA, Ontario–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bird Canada today announced the launch of an e-scooter pilot at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa to showcase the Bird Three e-scooter model and new technology innovations, many of which address concerns raised by accessibility advocates in the community. Ottawa is the first city in Canada to preview these new features, which promote proper parking, curb sidewalk riding, and provide audible noise emissions that ensure e-scooters can be heard by individuals with visual impairments. The technology pilot will operate at Lansdowne until the end of the 2021 scooting season. A video showcasing some of the new features is available online.

“The Bird Three is our most technologically sophisticated e-scooter model, and includes innovative new parking, sidewalk riding detection, and sound emissions features that address many of the concerns raised by disability advocates,” said Stewart Lyons, CEO of Bird Canada. “We’re excited to highlight these new features, as this new model provides a sneak preview of what’s to come from Bird Canada for the 2022 scooting season in Ottawa.”

Sidewalk Riding Prevention

Bird’s latest e-scooter model uses next-generation on-vehicle sensors and geofencing technology to detect and prevent sidewalk riding in real time. The sensor fusion algorithm synthesizes data from GPS signals and on-vehicle sensors to deliver the most accurate vehicle location data in the industry. The system educates riders via an audible and visual “No-Ride Zone” warning that is sent to their mobile device and on-vehicle display when mounting a sidewalk. The e-scooter then safely reduces speed until it comes to a stop, at which point the rider can walk the e-scooter. Unlike camera-based solutions, which are prone to damage and failure, Bird’s technology is power efficient, scalable, and delivers highly stable performance in all weather conditions.

AI-Verified Parking Compliance

While geofencing works well to prevent riders from parking in large, predetermined areas, accuracy limitations make it unreliable when trying to determine if a rider has parked an e-scooter within a smaller space such as a designated parking location. In response, engineers at Bird developed an advanced new parking solution using a Camera Positioning System (CPS) that’s 10 times more accurate than a traditional Global Positioning System (GPS). CPS works well in dense urban environments and enables Bird Canada to validate parking compliance within 20 centimeters or less.

How It Works

The all-new Bird parking system uses 3D City Mapping and sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) to direct riders to proper parking locations and confirm in real time if an e-scooter is within a designated parking spot before enabling the rider to end their ride. Using 3D City Mapping, Bird Canada creates a high-accuracy 3D scan of the buildings and architecture surrounding each approved parking area. At the end of a ride, riders are instructed via the Bird app to scan their e-scooter’s QR code and then point their camera at the surrounding buildings. Bird’s advance AI system then analyzes the rider’s images in real time and finds a feature of nearby buildings that is clear and unique and compares it to the 3D scan of the area. By identifying the buildings in the image and the perspective from which they are viewed in the image, the system determines the precise location of the e-scooter. If an e-scooter is parked within a city-approved or otherwise predetermined area, the system will enable the rider to end their ride. If the e-scooter is outside an approved parking location, the Bird app instructs the rider to relocate the device to an approved area to complete their ride.

Noise Emission

Bird Canada e-scooters operating at Lansdowne as part of the pilot will emit audible noise at regular intervals to alert pedestrians of approaching e-scooters. This automated, audible feature addresses concerns raised by accessibility advocates in the community.

Putting Safety First with Beginner Mode and Safe Start

Beginner Mode is a safety feature that slows acceleration, limits the top speed, and provides riders with additional guidance on how to ride an e-scooter. The gentle acceleration option enables new riders to gradually work their way up to full speed, making it ideal for those who may not have much experience riding shared e-scooters as well as for those who prefer a slower acceleration.

Bird Canada has a zero-tolerance policy for riding drunk or under the influence of drugs. To help cities combat irresponsible behaviour, the Safe Start in-app safety feature asks e-scooter riders attempting to unlock a Bird e-scooter after 10pm to type in a keyword within the Bird app. If the rider is unable to pass the test, the Bird e-scooter will not unlock. This feature helps educate riders on the dangers of riding while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and helps to prevent such riders from operating Bird e-scooters.

About Bird Canada

Powered by Bird, Bird Canada Inc. operates an electric vehicle sharing program. Bird Canada is a Canadian-owned and operated company that offers Canadians, and visitors to Canada, a new way to avoid congestion and get around that is affordable and uses the latest and most innovative last-mile mobility solutions for urban areas. For additional information, visit Bird online, on Twitter, and on Instagram.