CLERMONT-FERRAND, France — Group Michelin has taken another step toward fulfilling its mission to enhance road safety by acquiring RoadBotics Inc., an intelligent mobility start-up whose technology transforms visual infrastructure data into meaningful maps using artificial intelligence.
The acquisition of Pittsburgh-based RoadBotics "will enable Michelin to consolidate its (offerings) in data intelligence," Lorraine Frega, a member of Michelin's executive committee, said.
"With a more accurate understanding of driving behaviors thanks to RoadBotics's imaging technology, [Michelin] will be able to complement its expertise and improve the value proposition to its clients who manage road infrastructures."
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but the Clermont-Ferrand-based tire company signaled the value of the acquisition in its alignment with the plans to grow with, around and beyond tires.
By combining the expertise of RoadBotics and Michelin Driving Data to Intelligence (DDi) in driving-data analysis, Michelin said it plans to accelerate the development of the Michelin DDi "Safer Roads" solution in North America, and eventually in Europe.
RoadBotics' computer-vision technology transforms visual data from road infrastructures collected with cameras, mainly with smartphones, into "actionable data" to enable decision-making by road infrastructure managers. Michelin said.
It allows users, for example, to detect at-risk areas, to identify and prioritize maintenance to be carried out on their networks.
RoadBotics, born out of Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute in 2016, relies on artificial intelligence to both map and analyze infrastructure with data collection, mainly through the use of smartphones.
"Today, we have historic knowledge about tire and vehicle usage, driving behavior and expertise in valorizing mobility data," Frega said. "Our clients benefit from this combination of know-how, in particular through customized services and solutions that make their activities safer, more effective and more sustainable.
"In addition, by reinforcing people safety, connected mobility is also at the heart of human challenges and [Michelin's} commitments. That's part of the Group's belief that it is its responsibility to make mobility safer worldwide."
