Crowdsourcing inclusive, accessible last-mile transportation with self-driving #AccessibleOlli

#AccessibleOlli is a crowdsourced, open source effort to create the world’s most accessible transportation for all including the elderly and those with disabilities. #AccessibleOlli’s precursor, Olli developed by Local Motors is an autonomous vehicle enabled by IBM Watson cognitive assistant. Olli can ‘hear’ spoken questions and instructions and respond in familiar conversational language to take people where they need to go. Using a network of embedded sensors, devices, robotics and AI technology, #AccessibleOlli seeks to transform the lives of the world’s growing aging population and persons with disabilities. Contributors to #AccessibleOlli include ADLINK Technology, IBM, CTA Foundation, Local Motors, AARP, MIT, PTECH schools, ASU, Local Motors, Ultrahaptics, what3words, Mapbox, Front Porch, LG, Panasonic, BestMile, Mayo Clinic, City of Rochester MN and a world-wide community of volunteer SMEs, designers, developers and engineers.

Why do we need inclusive mobility that is accessible for all? Urban mobility is a $1.5T a year market serving 4 billion people. Existing public transport options don’t serve the elderly or disabled well enough. Currently 1 billion people, around 15 percent of the world’s population, experience some form of disability. In the US, over 560,000 people with disabilities never leave home due to transportation difficulties. According to the Journal of Gerontology, seniors outlive their ability to drive safely by an average of 7 to 10 years. By 2050, around 22 percent of the global population will be aged 60 years or older.

Here is a video overview of the program with Joe Speed of ADLINK Technology and IBMers https://youtu.be/KjP6aRtuEv4