The Last Mile: How Advancements in Robotics are Driving Micro-Mobility Innovation

 

Tony Ho, VP of Global Business Development for Segway, provided his thoughts on how the pandemic’s affected the transportation industry and what exciting innovations Segway’s been working on to improve micro-mobility.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, everyone was worried product supply from China would be heavily impacted,” Ho said. “But it turned out the supplier scare wasn’t long, because everyone else shut down due to the pandemic, and the situation became a demand shock.”

If there is a silver lining to the COVID-19 crisis, Ho said it’s that the micro-mobility industry experienced a relatively quick comeback. Ho attributes a boom in some areas to people looking for different modes of transportation that don’t involve crowds, unlike traditional methods like buses or trains.

Shifting focus away from the pandemic and onto what’s new with Segway, Ho said advancements in robotics and AI over the past few years drive technology and innovation within the company.

“The computer power and machine learning in robotics are advancing, and the cost is getting cheaper and cheaper,” Ho said. “The need and demand for automation in micro-mobility also provides the impetus for the interest in AI technology.”

Ho believes the micro-mobility movement is still in its infancy, and technology is just starting to find its place in shaping the future’s transit products.

Can AI and robotics bring the operating costs of micro-mobility ride-sharing fleets down? Ho said the answer is yes.

“A lot of the autonomous driving technology that exists today can be borrowed and used for kick scooters,” he said.

One solution Segway found to solve some issues in kick scooters that made automation difficult was to add a third wheel that encourages better self-balancing.

“The three-wheel scooters self-balance and appear to be safer to ride due to their added stability,” Ho said.

Be sure to subscribe to our industry publication for the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Transportation Industry.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

DXpedition
Icom Powers 3Y0K : Ham Radio’s Most Ambitious DXpedition to Remote Bouvet Island Part 1
July 11, 2025

Bouvet Island sits at the edge of the world. It is frozen, uninhabited, and almost impossible to access. Fewer people have set foot there than in space. That level of remoteness is exactly what makes it so valuable to amateur radio operators. The island ranks tenth on ClubLog’s list of Most Wanted DXCC entities,…

Read More
entrepreneurial success
The Hidden Key to Entrepreneurial Success: Build Momentum Through Personal Branding and Authentic Networking
July 10, 2025

What if the biggest pivot of your career started with a conversation?  In this episode of Professional Quotient, host Jason Winningham welcomes Fanny Dunagan, CEO and Content Strategist of PathLynks, LLC. Fanny shares her journey from high-pressure consulting in Singapore to founding her own media and branding company — and why learning to network…

Read More
Q2 2025
RM Q2 2025 Wrap Up
July 9, 2025

Rogue Marketing continues to lead with intention in a space often driven by noise. Q2 2025 reflected a strategic focus on substance, where each initiative supported long-term brand growth. The team transformed internal recognition efforts into enduring brand assets and refined event strategies through immersive, results-driven experiences. Website launches during the quarter balanced visual…

Read More
amateur radios
Hamvention Spotlight: Emergency Preparedness Led PrepHam Paul to Amateur Radios and a Rising Voice in the Field
July 9, 2025

PrepHam Paul (K5VLP) celebrated his first visit to Dayton Hamvention by marking a major channel milestone. He hosted a giveaway of the  IC-2370B mobile radio from Icom to thank viewers for helping him reach 10,000 subscribers. His passion for emergency preparedness, rooted in his experience as an Eagle Scout and later studies in emergency management,…

Read More