Russian kicksharing companies began to install their own electronics on scooters

Russian kicksharing companies have begun to independently develop electronic "stuffing" for electric scooters, representatives of Whoosh and MTS Yrent told Izvestia about this.

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So, this season, Whoosh has implemented a new IoT module in its scooters (the "electronic brain" of the device, as indicated in the company's materials). The scooter will more accurately receive the satellite signal and recognize the coordinates of the means of individual mobility (SIM), according to the company's materials, which were reviewed by Izvestia. This was achieved by replacing the Chinese GNSS module with a fundamentally new receiver: in case of signal loss, the module will continue navigation using the built-in inertial system operating independently. This is especially true in large cities, where GPS problems are observed from time to time, Whoosh emphasizes.

The Yrent 2.0 scooters are based on proprietary electronics, the company told Izvestia. This is necessary to adapt to regulation and market challenges, for example, this applies to GPS — domestic developments can be quickly adapted, but it is more difficult with Chinese, her representative notes.

"It is possible to collect telemetry data and analyze it, for example, when it comes to aggressive driving. We are also talking about the introduction of new technologies: preventing two-person driving and much more. Your own navigation equipment gives you flexibility: for example, you can not only install GPS, but also use other positioning methods, such as Wi-Fi and base stations of mobile operators," he says.

According to a representative of MTS Yuret, about 40 thousand scooters are equipped with their own electronics.

The use of domestic navigation modules makes it possible to make electric scooters more convenient and safer, says Ksenia Erdman, director of the Association of Micromobility Operators. She claims that the assembly of IoT modules is made in Russia, although Chinese components are still used.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

Wheeled travel: domestic electronics began to be installed on kicksharing scooters