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Bird Unveils Augmented Reality-Powered Parking Technology; Free to City Partners to Keep Walkways Neat

Bird Global, Inc. (NYSE:BRDS), a pioneer in the field of eco-friendly electric transportation, has unveiled its innovative parking technology, Bird Visual Parking System (VPS). This technology is offered at no cost to city partners, eliminating the need for infrastructure or technology investments by the community. The Bird VPS signifies a breakthrough in sustainable transportation, reinforcing Bird’s commitment to developing smart and effective solutions for urban mobility.

(Image: Bird)

Bird VPS, a scalable and revolutionary new parking tool, harnesses the power of Google’s ARCore Geospatial API. This cutting-edge technology allows Bird to geo-localize parked scooters with unprecedented precision, leveraging Google’s extensive 3D scanning, augmented reality (AR) technology, and Street View data from across the globe. With this innovation, Bird riders can accurately and conveniently conclude their eco-friendly rides, ensuring they park in an orderly manner that complies with community parking guidelines. This way, Bird is taking a significant step towards maintaining unobstructed walkways and ramps, further advocating for the seamless integration of sustainable transportation in our cities.

“The new ARCore Geospatial API from Google is an absolute game changer for micromobility that allows us to offer cities a first-of-its-kind Visual Parking System that’s unmatched in terms of accuracy and scalability,” said Justin Balthrop, Chief Technology Officer at Bird. “With Bird VPS, we’re able to meet cities’ number one need, proper parking, in a way that’s never been possible before, and we’re able to do it at scale in cities around the world thanks to Google’s robust global data and technology.”

How Bird VPS Works

The revolutionary Bird VPS technology is embedded within the Bird app, making it compatible with both iOS and Android operating systems. This allows it to scale to all Bird riders over time and provides immunity against theft or vandalism—issues often encountered with other parking technologies. The use of Bird VPS can be broken down into three simple, seamless steps:

  1. Scan – Upon concluding a ride, the rider is prompted to scan the surrounding area using the camera on their smartphone.
  2. Analyze – Using Google’s ARCore Geospatial API, Bird instantly compares the rider’s images to its extensive database of Google Street View images.
  3. Park – Based on the precise geolocation obtained, the Bird VPS will either permit the rider to park and proceed with their day (if the parking complies with local city parking regulations) or instruct them to correct the vehicle’s parking before ending the ride.

Bird VPS Pricing and Availability

Bird VPS is provided free of cost to Bird’s city partners. It is presently being tested in New York City, San Francisco, and San Diego, with plans to extend its reach to more of Bird’s 400+ partner cities in the near future.