Influencing additive manufacturing sector with world’s first 3D printed car, Local Motors manufactured a self-driving capacity car. Working with IBM computing technology, this car unites technology and automotive.
Manufacturing world’s first 3D printed car LM3D Swim at SEMA auto fair in 2014, Local Motors continues to lead the way of innovation. The company is now working on Olli a self-driving car equipped with IBM Watson hardware.
The vehicle, dubbed ‘Olli,’ was unveiled during the Grand Opening of a new Local Motors facility in National Harbor, MD this morning, and transported Local Motors CEO and co-founder John B. Rogers, Jr. along with vehicle designer Edgar Sarmiento from the Local Motors co-creation community into the new facility. The electric vehicle, which can carry up to 12 people, is equipped with some of the world’s most advanced vehicle technology, including IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT) for Automotive, to improve the passenger experience and allow natural interaction with the vehicle.
Passengers will be able to interact conversationally with Olli while traveling from point A to point B, discussing topics about how the vehicle works, where they are going, and why Olli is making specific driving decisions. Watson empowers Olli to understand and respond to passengers’ questions as they enter the vehicle, including about destinations; “Olli, can you take me downtown?” or specific vehicle functions “How does this feature work?” or even “Are we there yet?” Passengers can also ask for recommendations on local destinations such as popular restaurants or historical sites based on analysis of personal preferences. These interactions with Olli are designed to create more pleasant, comfortable, intuitive and interactive experiences for riders as they journey in autonomous vehicles.
“Olli offers a smart, safe and sustainable transportation solution that is long overdue,” Local Motors CEO and co-founder John B. Rogers, Jr said. “Olli with Watson acts as our entry into the world of self-driving vehicles, something we’ve been quietly working on with our co-creative community for the past year. We are now ready to accelerate the adoption of this technology and apply it to nearly every vehicle in our current portfolio and those in the very near future. I’m thrilled to see what our open community will do with the latest in advanced vehicle technology.”