USA: The Transit Tech Lab initiative created by New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Partnership for New York City has selected 15 companies to participate in its annual transport innovation challenge.
The latest round attracted nearly 150 applicants. The selected proposals are:
- Accure Battery Intelligence: predictive battery analytics software that prevents fires and reduces the operation and maintenance costs of electric vehicle fleets (partnering with Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, New York City Transit, NJ Transit);
- Digital Mortar: using passenger flow sensors to provide real-time customer journey analytics for queue management, dynamic staff allocation, lost revenue analysis, space planning and commercial property optimisation (NJ Transit);
- Humatics: using trains in revenue service to provide near real-time track condition monitoring (New York City Transit, NJ Transit);
- Lux Modus: using LiDAR and imagery fusion technology to automate 3D mapping to optimise asset management (New York City Transit, NJ Transit);
- Optibus: artificial intelligence and optimisation algorithms to improve timetables and routes (New York City Transit);
- PavCon: predictive maintenance and parts supply forecasts (Metro-North Railroad, New York City Transit);
- Signapse AI: using AI to automatically translate written text to sign language enabling scalable, cheaper and faster accessible content for the Deaf community (Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, NYC Department of Transportation, NJ Transit);
- Swiftly: platform for agencies to share real-time passenger information, manage day-to-day operations and improve service performance (New York City Transit, NJ Transit);
- TekTracking: mobile applications to automate track inspection and signal testing reports (Port Authority of New York & New Jersey);
- ThroughPut: supply chain diagnostics software that enables immediate operational intervention, eliminating maintenance downtime caused by supply chain delays and unavailability of parts (Metro-North Railroad);
- WiTronix: real-time IoT platform that collects insights from onboard systems and enables remote visibility (Metro-North Railroad, New York City Transit, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, NJ Transit);
- Widesense: real-time AI optimised actionable guidance to electric vehicle fleet operator dispatch and maintenance teams (NJ Transit);
- eSkill Corp: Talent Assessment Platform to easily evaluate job candidates (MTA, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey);
- Jetdocs: centralised catalogue for users to submit tickets, requests and approvals, enabling easy standardisation of processes to streamline workflows (MTA, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey);
- Pyxai: a virtual video-enabled assessment platform that evaluates and collects data on soft skills to help identify overlooked talent, improve retention rates and reduce recruitment costs (Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, NJ Transit);
The selected companies will now partner with the transport agencies to pilot their technologies during an eight-week proof-of-concept period.
Over the past three years, 23 companies have moved on to conduct year-long pilots.
’Every year, the leaders of the MTA present their most challenging issues to the Transit Tech Lab, and every year, the challenges orchestrated by the lab deliver’, said MTA Senior Advisor for Innovation & Policy Michael Wojnar on May 8.
‘Several firms first brought to our attention via the TTL are now great business partners, having provided forward-thinking solutions to problems and conditions in desperate need of innovation.’
