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New Project Harvests Road Data with Connected, Electric School Buses

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Future Mobility has announced the launch of its first funded strategic project titled "Harvesting Road Data with Connected, Electric School Buses." This international innovation collaboration between Univrses from Sweden and Highland Fleets from the USA will leverage electric school buses equipped with AI-supported sensor technology to gather critical real-time data on road conditions, traffic patterns, and safety hazards.

School buss driving on the road

Urbanization is accelerating globally, placing immense pressure on city resources as people, vehicles, and construction activities converge in expanding urban areas. Shrinking budgets for road maintenance and operations demand innovative solutions to do more with less. This project, funded by Vinnova through Future Mobility, seeks to harness the power of connected vehicles to gather more frequent and augmented insights about what is going on in the road environment to enable smarter decision-making to save time, money and lives. 

Innovative Approach 

The core idea of the project is to equip Highland Fleets' electric school buses with Univrses' 3DAI™ City system. These buses will serve as data harvesters, collecting real-time information about traffic conditions, road infrastructure, and safety hazards. This AI-processed data will enable public authorities, fleet owners, and other stakeholders to make informed decisions that enhance operational efficiency, improve road safety, and reduce maintenance costs. 

Strategic Collaboration 

This initiative marks the first collaboration between Univrses, a Swedish company within road management, and Highland Fleets, a leading US actor in sustainable mobility. By leveraging their combined expertise, the project aims to foster a long-term partnership that explores new applications and business opportunities in the mobility sector. This collaboration will not only showcase the capabilities of connected vehicles but also pave the way for future innovations in sustainable transportation. 

Project Goals and Potential 

The project will focus on demonstrating the value of Univrses' 3DAI™ City through a targeted deployment with Highland Fleets. Key objectives include: 

  • Proactive management of road conditions through regular updates. 
  • Automation of data collection and asset management processes. 
  • Reduction in the need for manual inspections, leading to cost and time savings. 
  • Enhanced resource prioritization based on real-time data. 
  • Sharing of best practices and insights through open webinars. 

The anticipated impact of this project is substantial. Previous deployments of 3DAI™ City technology have shown significant potential for cost savings and operational efficiencies, with savings of $150 per kilometer per year in road damage management alone. Scaling this technology across the United States' extensive highway network could result in annual savings of nearly $40 million, highlighting its financial and operational benefits. 

Future Prospects 

Over the course of 12 months, the project will not only gather and analyze road data but also adapt the 3DAI™ City system to capture additional features relevant to the safety of school children and other critical road assets. This comprehensive approach aims to create a more sustainable and efficient transportation system, reducing emissions, enhancing safety, and optimizing resource use. 

Future Mobility is now accepting applications for strategic projects that boost research and innovation collaboration between the United States and Sweden. These projects aim to create disruptive sustainable mobility solutions in three key areas: shared mobility solutions, electric transport, and connected & automated transport solutions. 

Interested parties can learn how to apply for co-funding from Future Mobility to initiate their own innovation collaborations. Future Mobility provides support in matchmaking and project preparation, including assistance with project pitches and application processes. Successful projects must include actors from both the United States and Sweden, involve commercial actors or potential users, and be co-funded by at least 50% of the total budget by the applicants. 

For more information on how to apply and the criteria for strategic projects, visit the page: https://futuremobility.lindholmen.se/en/create-strategic-project 

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Start an innovation collaboration with funding from Future Mobility

Future Mobility aims to contribute to new or strengthened innovation collaborations between Sweden and the United States within sustainable mobility.

We finance strategic projects that boost research and innovation collaboration between the United States and Sweden that create disruptive sustainable mobility solutions.

 

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School bus is driving on a street

Harvesting Road Data with Connected, Electric School Buses

The Future Mobility-funded strategic project, Harvesting Road Data with Connected, Electric School Buses brings together Univrses from Sweden and Highland Fleets from the USA in a collaborative effort...
Man smiling into the camera

Hans Pohl

Future Mobility
Program Director
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Jan Hellåker

Future Mobility
Project Manager United States