Pioneering Oxford company launches "world first" subscription-based self-driving software
StreetDrone, the Oxford-based pioneering autonomous technology company, is aiming to make self-driving solutions affordable and accessible by launching the world’s first subscription-based self-driving software.
Enterprise ASLAN is aimed at companies with an interest in low-speed autonomous applications, including last-mile deliveries, that require deployment in short timeframes, removing the need for large capital investments in software by offering the industry’s first subscription solution.
The software can also be used in campus transport, ports and quayside freighting, bus and coach depot movements, car park management, airside support services, urban passenger transport & contactless medicine deliveries.
Last month, the company also announced it had won UK Government funding as part of a consortium tasked with delivering an autonomous logistics capability to Nissan’s Sunderland car plant. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport grant will be used to develop 5G connected and self-driving 40-tonne trucks capable of moving parts and assemblies between Nissan’s Sunderland manufacturing plant and local businesses contributing to the car maker’s just-in-time supply chain.
In addition to reducing software costs with monthly subscription terms and shifting the financial focus for businesses from risky capital investment to operating expenditure, Enterprise ASLAN, which is capable of running on any vehicle and is not tied exclusively to StreetDrone vehicles, also provides commercial flexibility through access to StreetDrone’s engineering capability to help design applications for use in specific markets and environments. This removes the need for customers to invest in technical expertise and focus instead on the commercial realisation of the benefits of autonomous solutions.
Mike Potts, StreetDrone’s CEO said: “Enterprise ASLAN is our next step in the mission to bring autonomy in reach of any business where autonomous technology might be a game changer in their market.”
“Many businesses simply don’t contemplate driverless solutions as they are terrified by the costs and the lack of options in the marketplace. So we’ve set about addressing that from a customer perspective by making the costs lower and amortisable. We’ve removed the need for specialist hardware platforms and vehicles and indeed the need to commit to hiring engineers. If a customer’s solution grows and they want to bring the expertise in-house, then Enterprise ASLAN provides a training platform to transfer that knowledge,” he added.
StreetDrone is a founder member of Project ASLAN, the organisation behind the globally renown open-source software stack.
