This is a very busy week at FAR.  A combination of creating our write-up for our Inclusive Design Challenge deadline of May 1st is well underway, and at the same time we are working on videos demonstrating the incredible technology we have created over the past year or so.  The question is how does one go about demonstrating a technology that in production will interface with an Automated Vehicle when you do not have an AV to test on?  The answer is simple but a lot of work.  You create an AV Simulator!  If all goes as planned, our AV simulator will take commands from our FAVI system and simulate a drive (with a real driver following the simulator commands).  The simulator will take commands from the User’s FAVI app and respond appropriately.  The goal will be to demonstrate requesting your vehicle, successfully locating the vehicle, driving the route to the drop-off point, and then successfully finding the entrance to the destination location.  It’s one thing to talk about what a technology can do, but the truth is that it’s always more helpful to see it in action.  It’s a lot of work to put a good demonstration together, but we are hopeful we’ll get there and really show the value of what we have created.

Automated Vehicle Simulator

Automated Vehicle Simulator

This week also began the deployment of our bluetooth technology at the Minster School in Nottinghamshire, UK.  We are very excited to bring greater independence to their visually impaired students.

FAR Indoor Beacons

FAR Indoor Beacons

Finally, this week we also began the deployment of almost 400 beacons on the bus system in Pensacola, Florida.  These beacons will ride on each of their buses as well as being mounted on hundreds of their essential bus stops.  This deployment will help the visually impaired and those that have difficulties navigating more easily locate their bus stops and give them the ability to always know where their bus is on their route even if they miss the announcements.  We see a future of switching from bluetooth to UWB beacons for our transportation systems to give even more accuracy and independence to our users.

FAR Bus Stop Beacons

FAR Bus Stop Beacons

We love busy weeks and making an impact to improve the lives of people.  We look forward to continuing to develop and create before our final Inclusive Design Challenge presentations in June.

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