autonomous VTA ride (aVTAr)

Local Motors debuts new accessibility features to aid US Veterans in partnership with VTA

In an effort to make autonomous transportation accessible for all, Local Motors will deploy their autonomous shuttle, Olli, to help veterans move around the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto, California. As a part of VTA's pilot project, partners led test runs at a San Jose location, demonstrating the capabilities of the new automated, ADA-compliant ramp. This video produced by VTA and the project partners shows Olli’s ability to serve a variety of mobility device users.

With help from Prospect Silicon Valley, this project is the nation’s first autonomous vehicle project to focus entirely on accessibility. The project is anchored by the development of three new features: a Smarter AI™ Gateway that applies precision AI models to Olli’s internal and external cameras to notify Olli when a passenger is using a mobility device, an automated wheelchair ramp, developed by BraunAbility, and a ride-hailing application that allows mobility device users to customize their ride preferences. Partners Smarter AI, Braunability, and Liftango are providing the respective core technology and capabilities for the project.

Kat Dransfield, Local Motors’ VP of Product and Digital Platform Strategy, said, “We’re proud to be developing these new Olli features to simplify mobility for patients at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto. Real-world feedback from veterans will help us continue making Olli the most accessible autonomous shuttle available today.”

Once operational, the shuttle will be called aVTAr - Autonomous VTA vehicle.