Periodic Reporting for period 2 - G MOTIT (Galileo-Enhanced MOTIT: an electric scooter sharing service for sustainable urban mobility)
Período documentado: 2016-01-01 hasta 2017-03-31
Causing peaks in pollution, wasted time and noise nuisance, traffic jams are one of the greatest challenges to overcome for the majority of large cities around the world. It’s a problem that affects the richest countries and developing countries alike, and the possible solutions are as slow to put in place as they are difficult to enforce. Moreover, the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions is one of the major challenges of the 21st century. These facts highlight the need of efficient and environmentally sustainable urban mobility services that do not generate CO2 emissions and ease traffic congestion.
Within this context, an innovative service has been developed in order to solve mobility problems in the city of Barcelona and potentially major metropolitan areas in Europe. MOTIT is a unique and innovative electric scooter sharing service, in which users may pick up and drop off vehicles wherever and whenever they want. MOTIT allows users to reserve a scooter with their smartphone, and some minutes before the start of the trip he receives a notification on his smartphone with the position of the vehicle assigned.
Vehicle positioning performance is key for the success of the service, since the user is informed on where to pick up his vehicle based on this source. During initial pilot operations, supported by European Commission R&D funding , GPS-based solution (embedded on the tablet device of the vehicle) has proven not to be a reliable solution because of:
• Lack of availability in certain areas of the city (deep urban)
• Positioning errors, and therefore misleading scooter location information to user
Therefore, G-MOTIT project aims to overcome these problems by developing and integrating an EGNSS-based location technology. The location solution will be validated both functionally and operationally through a small-scale demonstration in Grand Paris region.
The three objectives, which will make the overall project achievements successful within a 24-month frame, are:
1. Design and development of a European GNSS (EGNOS + Galileo) enabled device that significantly improves the vehicle positioning availability and reliability.
2. To demonstrate and validate how the EGNSS-based positioning unit can bring added value to the service.
3. Support the commercialisation of the service and expansion into other cities in Europe
Within this context, an innovative service has been developed in order to solve mobility problems in the city of Barcelona and potentially major metropolitan areas in Europe. MOTIT is a unique and innovative electric scooter sharing service, in which users may pick up and drop off vehicles wherever and whenever they want. MOTIT allows users to reserve a scooter with their smartphone, and some minutes before the start of the trip he receives a notification on his smartphone with the position of the vehicle assigned.
Vehicle positioning performance is key for the success of the service, since the user is informed on where to pick up his vehicle based on this source. During initial pilot operations, supported by European Commission R&D funding , GPS-based solution (embedded on the tablet device of the vehicle) has proven not to be a reliable solution because of:
• Lack of availability in certain areas of the city (deep urban)
• Positioning errors, and therefore misleading scooter location information to user
Therefore, G-MOTIT project aims to overcome these problems by developing and integrating an EGNSS-based location technology. The location solution will be validated both functionally and operationally through a small-scale demonstration in Grand Paris region.
The three objectives, which will make the overall project achievements successful within a 24-month frame, are:
1. Design and development of a European GNSS (EGNOS + Galileo) enabled device that significantly improves the vehicle positioning availability and reliability.
2. To demonstrate and validate how the EGNSS-based positioning unit can bring added value to the service.
3. Support the commercialisation of the service and expansion into other cities in Europe
The G-MOTIT project has been completed during this 2nd period. The final meeting took place successfully on May 22nd – 23rd at GSA premises (Prague).
As presented in detail in this final report, the G-MOTIT project activities took place mostly as initially planned in the DoA. The project successfully demonstrated that Galileo, combined with GPS and other satellite navigation systems, can provide a reliable solution for mobility services operating in urban environment, providing a more reliable positioning solution even in narrow streets of the old suburbs.
During the project 1st period, the technical work went through the requirements definition, system-level design, positioning unit sub-component design and development. The technical developments were finalised at the beginning of the 2nd period, consisting on a unit developed on a market ready HW platform compliant with automotive requirements. This unit was tested intensively through operational pilots with e-scooters (Barcelona), e-bikes (Paris and Barcelona) and a fire-fighters truck.
In terms of communication, the project combined overall communication of the project through the channels established during the 1st period (website, twitter) and specific activities addressing user local communities where the pilots took place (Paris and Barcelona). G-MOTIT Project also participated in different key events in the EGNSS and ITS sectors, which have allowed networking opportunities with different stakeholders and created potential business opportunities for the project. As an example, the Smart City Congress 2016 and Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition 2017.
In terms of assessing and improving the business potential of the solution, an in-depth market analysis and exploitation plan for the technology has been produced, addressing the potentiality of the vehicle-sharing sector. The potentiality of the G-MOTIT technology for other mobility services has been also explored through two additional pilots (e-bikes and firefighters trucks in Barcelona).
As presented in detail in this final report, the G-MOTIT project activities took place mostly as initially planned in the DoA. The project successfully demonstrated that Galileo, combined with GPS and other satellite navigation systems, can provide a reliable solution for mobility services operating in urban environment, providing a more reliable positioning solution even in narrow streets of the old suburbs.
During the project 1st period, the technical work went through the requirements definition, system-level design, positioning unit sub-component design and development. The technical developments were finalised at the beginning of the 2nd period, consisting on a unit developed on a market ready HW platform compliant with automotive requirements. This unit was tested intensively through operational pilots with e-scooters (Barcelona), e-bikes (Paris and Barcelona) and a fire-fighters truck.
In terms of communication, the project combined overall communication of the project through the channels established during the 1st period (website, twitter) and specific activities addressing user local communities where the pilots took place (Paris and Barcelona). G-MOTIT Project also participated in different key events in the EGNSS and ITS sectors, which have allowed networking opportunities with different stakeholders and created potential business opportunities for the project. As an example, the Smart City Congress 2016 and Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition 2017.
In terms of assessing and improving the business potential of the solution, an in-depth market analysis and exploitation plan for the technology has been produced, addressing the potentiality of the vehicle-sharing sector. The potentiality of the G-MOTIT technology for other mobility services has been also explored through two additional pilots (e-bikes and firefighters trucks in Barcelona).
G-MOTIT project aims at enhancing and supporting commercialization of an innovative urban mobility service taking advantage of Galileo EGNOS. Positioning performance is a key feature for the service operation and GPS standalone is not able to provide the desired requirements. Adding EGNOS and GALILEO will allow meeting the accuracy and availability requirements, and therefore becoming an enabler for the successful commercialization of the service.
G-MOTIT development should enable to complete the system with the required positioning performance, which means an evolution towards TRL 9 (actual system proven in operational environment): not only the technology will be functionally validated in G-MOTIT, but also a demonstration is expected in Grand Paris where the system will be proven in operational environment for 4 months.
The MOTIT service is innovative in several aspects:
- All the interface with user is done through the smartphone, including the scooter activation
- Scooters are electric and specifically designed for this service, ensuring a comfortable and environment friendly driving to non-experienced users
- The vehicles can be parked as any private vehicle; they are no linked to stations. Therefore, it´s likely that you won´t have to walk long distance to pick up your vehicle
-This also avoids expensive investments and public space occupancy in charging infrastructure
- Helmet is available on the vehicle so user doesn´t need to bring one
- It´s a fast way to travel in the city, avoiding traffic jams It can be easily combined with public transport for last-mile trips
Moreover, it has a social impact contributing to improving urban mobility in three aspects:
- It´s a fast way of traveling around the city, avoiding traffic jams It can be easily combined with public transport for last-mile trips
- It replaces private vehicles, which generate congestion and public space occupancy
- It´s friendly with the environment
G-MOTIT development should enable to complete the system with the required positioning performance, which means an evolution towards TRL 9 (actual system proven in operational environment): not only the technology will be functionally validated in G-MOTIT, but also a demonstration is expected in Grand Paris where the system will be proven in operational environment for 4 months.
The MOTIT service is innovative in several aspects:
- All the interface with user is done through the smartphone, including the scooter activation
- Scooters are electric and specifically designed for this service, ensuring a comfortable and environment friendly driving to non-experienced users
- The vehicles can be parked as any private vehicle; they are no linked to stations. Therefore, it´s likely that you won´t have to walk long distance to pick up your vehicle
-This also avoids expensive investments and public space occupancy in charging infrastructure
- Helmet is available on the vehicle so user doesn´t need to bring one
- It´s a fast way to travel in the city, avoiding traffic jams It can be easily combined with public transport for last-mile trips
Moreover, it has a social impact contributing to improving urban mobility in three aspects:
- It´s a fast way of traveling around the city, avoiding traffic jams It can be easily combined with public transport for last-mile trips
- It replaces private vehicles, which generate congestion and public space occupancy
- It´s friendly with the environment