SEOUL/SINGAPORE: Hyundai Motor Group has launched a pilot program in Singapore to demonstrate an indoor/outdoor navigation solution that assists persons with visual impairment.
The group is partnering with SG Enable, the focal agency for disability and inclusion in Singapore, and the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) on this initiative.
This pilot program marks the second phase of Hyundai’s Universal Mobility Project to better serve persons with disabilities through the broad application of its smart mobility solutions for end-to-end journeys.
It has completed the first phase by launching EnableLA in Los Angeles, California, in 2021 to improve the transportation of people with mobility barriers, using wheelchair-accessible Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride SUVs.
The development of this assistive mobility solution aligns seamlessly with the Group’s Smart City vision, which was unveiled at the 2022 World Cities Summit in Singapore. The vision depicts a future urban landscape that is centered around human values. It emphasizes the integration of diverse mobility solutions, including navigation features designed to address transportation challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
To bring this program to fruition, Hyundai has partnered with tech startups to implement an integrated navigation guide using hardware-free positioning and obstacle monitoring with computer vision. Mapxus will provide an indoor navigation solution using Wi-Fi-fingerprinting technology, and Ailytics will provide a CCTV video analysis solution using computer vision technology.
The assistive mobility solution will be piloted at Enabling Village, the first inclusive community space in Singapore dedicated to integrating persons with disabilities, managed by SG Enable.
Over a 10-week testing period, recruited participants with visual impairment will trial the navigation solution to send their feedback and data to be used for future iterations of the inclusive end-to-end mobility solutions.
A general version of the mobility solution will be open for public use by all persons with disabilities and their caregivers who visit Enabling Village. The app can be downloaded by scanning a QR code that will be placed at Enabling Village’s Information and Career Center.
Ultimately, Hyundai’s objective is to evolve into a human-centered mobility provider, fostering a more inclusive community, particularly for people with mobility constraints. The next step of the Universal Mobility Project involves the development of a comprehensive end-to-end mobility solution, combined with purpose-built vehicles (PBVs), to expand the application and create a more streamlined journey for the transportation vulnerable.
