The VeloCity project aims to integrate cycling into daily transportation and recreation by developing a smart bike management system. The project focuses on incorporating bicycles into urban multimodal mobility, urban planning, and other policy sectors where cycling is pivotal.
Project Objectives:
- User-Centric Design: Conducting local and online surveys to analyze user requirements and define various user scenarios.
- Smart Bicycle Parameters: Identifying essential features for a smart bicycle that enhance safety, flexibility, and comfort.
- Prototype Development: Developing hardware and software for a smart bicycle, selecting appropriate technologies, and building a prototype and experimental platform for system testing.
Methodology:
- Internet of Things (IoT): Utilizing IoT technologies to create a networked system for real-time data collection and analysis.
- Open-Source Hardware: Employing Arduino-based platforms for rapid prototyping and development.
- Agile Development: Applying responsive design principles to ensure compatibility across desktops, smartphones, and tablets.
Key Components:
- Data Collection Device: A prototype device equipped with intelligent sensors for data gathering and light signaling.
- Cloud Platform: An open-source cloud system for data analysis and integration with urban transport management.
- User Interfaces: Web and mobile applications providing real-time monitoring and management capabilities.
Expected Outcomes:
- Enhanced Safety: Improved light signaling and monitoring systems to increase cyclist safety.
- Urban Integration: Seamless incorporation of cycling into urban transportation networks.
- User Engagement: Active involvement of users in system testing and feedback through living lab methodologies.
The VeloCity project represents a significant step toward promoting cycling as a sustainable and integral part of urban mobility.