Hyundai-Backed Motional Chooses Ottopia To Enable Teleoperation Of Mass Robotaxi Fleets

Hyundai-backed Motional has selected Israel’s Ottopia, a leader in teleoperation, to support the deployment of its robotaxi fleets. Motional will use Ottopia’s teleoperation technology to conduct remote vehicle assistance (RVA) when operating its fully driverless SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicles.

The operator has the ability to direct the vehicle to a new path or provide other assistance to the vehicle, all while located remotely in a fleet control centre. 

Ottopia optimised its proprietary video, communication, and control software to integrate seamlessly with Motional’s RVA solution, which includes Motional-developed interfaces and third-party hardware. 

Motional is a pioneer in driverless technology and operates the world’s most established public robotaxi service, a fleet that has conducted over 100,000 public rides. It was one of the first companies in the world to operate fully driverless vehicles on public roads.

Starting in 2023, Motional will be launching a fully driverless ride-hail service with Lyft in multiple U.S. markets. The service has the potential to introduce driverless technology to millions of Lyft riders. 

Guillaume Binet, Vice President of Software Infrastructure, Motional, says: “As we prepare for mass deployments of Motional robotaxis, an RVA solution provides an added layer of support for when our vehicles encounter unique and challenging road scenarios. Effective RVA is an important part of our commitment to delivering a seamless end-to-end passenger experience. Ottopia is a leader in its field and we look forward to continued collaboration as Motional makes robotaxis a global reality.”

Amit Rosenzweig, founder and CEO, Ottopia, adds: “While there are rapid advances in autonomous technology, there are always going to be certain edge cases that can benefit from remote support. This requires the ability to offer robust, real-time human intervention – at any time, anywhere. Ottopia is leading the teleoperation industry and we’re proud to work with Motional as it begins scaling its technology.”

Tel Aviv-based Ottopia Technologies, founded in 2018, is a technology company engaged in the design, development and commercialisation of teleoperation systems.