Beep, a provider of multi-passenger, electric, autonomous mobility solutions, has begun operating Yellowstone National Park’s first autonomous shuttle program, called T.E.D.D.Y. (The Electric Driverless Demonstration in Yellowstone), in partnership with Local Motors, which manufactures the ‘Olli’ autonomous vehicle. The 12-week T.E.D.D.Y. project, an ode to Teddy Roosevelt, will enable the National Park Service to test the feasibility and sustainability of autonomous mobility and better plan for the future of transportation.
Each ‘Olli’ will continuously analyze the road around the vehicle using high-definition sensors before deciding how to safely proceed given the wildlife, pedestrians and vehicles nearby. Beep will further ensure passenger safety by providing continuous oversight through its Beep Command Center.
“Beep is proud to have been selected by the National Park Service to provide transformative mobility at the country’s first national park,” said Joe Moye, Beep CEO. “Our safety-centric approach is a vital component in our planning, management and oversight of the operation to ensure we are providing visitors with a safe and sustainable mode of transport while enjoying the park. Our team spent several weeks on-site leading up to the start of the program conducting rigorous route testing, as well as training first responders and frontline workers in order to protect and preserve all that Yellowstone has to offer.”
Beep provided the full turnkey solution for the project by planning, managing and deploying with the NPS. Through to the end of August, Beep will operate two routes, seven days a week, at Yellowstone, collecting vital information such as ridership, route optimization and overall vehicle operations. Learnings and data gathered will help inform potential future deployments in national parks across the country.
“The project at Canyon Village [Yellowstone] is a testament to the strong partnership between Local Motors and Beep to deploy electric autonomous vehicles,” added Local Motors president Vikrant Aggarwal. “Olli will provide park visitors with a truly unique rider experience. Our 3D-printed vehicle structure is made from recyclable materials, and the vehicle utilizes a fully electric drivetrain, reflecting our commitment to making mobility more sustainable. We are excited to be bringing this technology to the NPS.”
With a proven track record in operating vehicles on public roads, Beep continues to manage the largest and most tenured autonomous shuttle service – in Lake Nona, Florida. The company claims the Yellowstone deployment is further proof of its ability to plan, manage and deploy autonomous solutions in unique environments.
Beep leverages the data and learnings from its public road deployments to produce vehicle agnostic, edge solutions meant to enhance safety, access, artificial-intelligence and driverless operating capabilities of autonomous platforms.