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A2GO: Revolutionizing Autonomous Mobility in Ann Arbor
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Fleet Management Systems (FMS)
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Public Cloud
Applicable Industries
- Automotive
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Autonomous Transport Systems
- Fleet Management
Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
Ann Arbor, Michigan, was looking for a way to provide efficient and convenient transportation for the University of Michigan students and faculty, as well as community members and visitors. The city needed a solution that would connect the Kerrytown area with Downtown and the University of Michigan’s campus, including popular local destinations such as the U of M Museum of Art and the Ann Arbor Public Library. The solution also needed to provide connections to other forms of transit, such as the Ann Arbor Amtrak Station. The challenge was to implement a solution that would be free, autonomous, and shared, while also being able to account for live traffic and road conditions.
About The Customer
The customers of A2GO are primarily the students and faculty of the University of Michigan, along with community members and visitors in Ann Arbor. These individuals require reliable and efficient transportation to navigate between the Kerrytown area, Downtown, and the University of Michigan’s campus. They also need to reach popular local destinations such as the U of M Museum of Art and the Ann Arbor Public Library, and connect to other forms of transit like the Ann Arbor Amtrak Station. The service is particularly beneficial for those who do not own a personal vehicle or prefer a shared, autonomous mode of transportation.
The Solution
The solution came in the form of A2GO, a free, autonomous, shared ride service launched in October 2021. The service was made possible through a partnership between Via, May Mobility, Mcity at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor SPARK, 4M, and !Important, with funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. May Mobility provided the autonomous vehicles (AVs) for A2GO, while Via powered the routing algorithms, transit software system, and customer-facing tools. This enabled the AVs to be booked on-demand and dynamically routed, while also ensuring a safe and convenient rider experience. Via’s routing algorithms took into account live traffic and road conditions in Ann Arbor to determine the optimal AV route and ride pooling mix. Via also built a custom rider app through which riders could book on-demand rides on any other May Mobility AV service in Michigan, track their ride status, and connect with customer support at any time.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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