TIER Mobility has acquired Fantasmo to aid its development of a highly accurate e-scooter parking system and advance the launch of computer vision-based driver assistance technology to ensure e-scooters are ridden responsibly.
Prior to this acquisition, TIER had already established a strong relationship with Fantasmo, which provides extremely accurate 3D maps and visual positioning technology. Fantasmo builds 3D maps of cities on foot, thus mapping streets from the ground level. It says this makes its positioning technology considerably more accurate than satellite-based GPS.
Using its camera positioning system (CPS) , the mapping company has supported TIER’s efforts to eliminate irresponsible e-scooter parking, which is a major concern for city authorities.
Jameson Detweiler, President and Co-founder of Fantasmo, said:We have been working with TIER closely for over a year, and have experienced firsthand their commitment to be the best micro-mobility platform for cities, citizens and riders. We are excited to continue on this journey together as we continue to expand our CPS powered parking validation technology into the future by bringing that technology and advanced rider assistance systems directly onto vehicles. We are confident that with TIER’s operational and vehicle experience and Fantasmo’s computer vision technology, we can ensure micro-mobility vehicles, pedestrians and everyone else will be able to exist together harmoniously.
TIER first rolled out Fantasmo’s CPS in Paris, where the 3D mapping technology enabled TIER to improve parking compliance, becoming the only micromobility provider to apply a proven technology-based product to address how e-scooters are parked.
TIER’s acquisition of Fantasmo will also advance the launch of TIER’s new computer vision-based driver assistance technology that can detect e-scooter traffic violations and collisions. Riders who do not follow the rules and regulations will be alerted and may be fined or banned. The new technology is currently being tested privately and will be rolled out in cities later this year.
Matthias Laug, CTO and co-founder of TIER, said:The acquisition of Fantasmo is a major step forward in our continuous investment in innovative features and technologies that will help to make e-scooters more compliant and safer for all road users. From the very beginning we’ve been hugely impressed by Fantasmo’s Camera Positioning System, which allows us to directly address the concerns of vulnerable road users when it comes to how e-scooters are parked. Our plan is to expand the positioning technology to numerous cities in Europe and the Middle East in the near future and at the same time invest in the upcoming computer vision-powered rider assistance system.
This acquisition follows TIER’s recent purchases of micromobility operator Spin, as well as Europe’s bikeshare company, netbike.
