In transportation, safety is everything.
And while e-scooter safety comes in many forms, perhaps the most fundamental is the ability to carefully and efficiently bring a rider to a stop.
That’s the logic behind Bird’s new AEB: the micromobility industry’s first Autonomous Emergency Braking system. Designed by our in-house team of former aerospace and automotive engineers, the proprietary feature safeguards riders against potential brake failure and ensures they can always bring the vehicle to a stop.
How Does Bird’s Autonomous Emergency Braking Work?
Bird AEB constantly monitors our vehicles’ mechanical braking systems to detect abnormalities. Brake handle sensors report on their condition in real time, part of an industry-leading diagnostic suite that runs millions of autonomous fault checks per day.
In the event that a braking request by a rider is met with a failed brake, Bird AEB automatically activates advanced motor controls to gently but swiftly bring the rider to a stop.
“Autonomous emergency braking is now the standard in the automobile industry, but this is the first time that active safety technology has been developed for lightweight electric vehicles such as e-scooters,” said Scott Rushforth, Chief Vehicle Officer at Bird. “Bird’s AEB system relies on sensors and advanced fault detection capabilities that can only be found in Bird e-scooters. That’s why it’s so critical that micromobility operators, most of whom still rely on off-the-shelf models, invest the time and resources necessary to design and build their own vehicles.”
A scooter whose AEB system has been engaged will immediately take itself offline, making itself unavailable for further use until a Bird team member has been able to retrieve and repair the vehicle.
This active safety technology is available on all Bird Two e-scooters. We will carry it forward into all new scooter models as well, with the hope that other operators quickly follow suit.
How Can I Learn More About Bird Vehicle Safety and Technology?
To learn more about what sets Bird vehicles apart, subscribe to our Bird Cities Blog or click on the links below: