A new Ride-Pooling service that allows passengers with a similar destination to travel together in large vans was launched by Hyundai Motors in Eunpyeong New Town, Seoul, South Korea on February 14th. It uses Artificial Intelligence(AI) technology. The community mobility service, according to Hyundai Motor, operates in a similar way to shuttle buses, but rather than following a fixed route, the vans will craft new routes reflecting user demand using Hyundai Motor’s artificial intelligence (AI) system. The name Shucle derived from the word 'shuttle', and 'circle', which means a group of people.
Shucle is a demand-response service that allows large passenger taxis (11-seater Hyundai Solati vans) to operate on an optimal route created in real-time when they are called by an app in a service area within a 2-kilometer radius, and passengers are picked up and dropped off at their desired location. The pilot project will be available for the next three months in a limited area of Eunpyeong District for free, for 100 users. Each user can bring up to 3 family members, meaning up to 400 people can use the service.
The Community Mobility Service, Shucle
Shucle uses AI Dynamic Routing technology
One important thing to know is that Shucle is operated through the AI Dynamic Routing technology developed by Air Lab, the Hyundai Motor Group's AI development team.
No one has enjoyed the city bus, following a fixed route, and spent so much time on going to the final destination. Taxis are too expensive, and buses stop at every single stop even when nobody is waiting. If bus drivers could estimate the specific demand, they would save a lot of time.
Shucle can do the magic through the Real-Time Optimal Routing' technology. When a user enters a destination using the Shucle app, the optimal vehicle is deployed considering real-time demand and traffic conditions. After the call, the app can check the location of the vehicle in real-time and schedule the arrival time.
When a new call is made, the route will be rearranged using the AI technology so that passengers on similar routes can board together in real-time through a specific and effective algorithm. Each stop is set within a 5-minute walk from where the user is. Passengers with young children, heavy loads, or the disabled will enjoy the service even more. It would also solve the city congestion by reducing private cars.
Hyundai And KSTM - The Local Mobility Franchise Meets The Right Platform
Shucle is a smart mobility service that works like both taxi and bus
Cab sharing was banned in 1982. However, the Hyundai Motor Group and the local mobility startup KST Mobility(KSTM) got a temporary green light back in November to try out a so-called community mobility service under a regulatory sandbox program by the Ministry of Science and ICT. The sandbox program enables companies to try out certain business models currently blocked by regulations under limited conditions, for developing innovative technologies and ideas.
Hyundai Motor Group developed the Real-Time Optimal Routing technology and planned the whole service out. Hyundai also created the operating system for the mobile app and remodeled the vans for taxi operation.
KSTM is a local mobility startup that runs the Macaron Taxi franchise. For this pilot project, KSTM deals with the education of the drivers and service operation. Starting from February 14th, Hyundai Motors and KSTM will collaborate for two years including the 3-month pilot program.
Shucle, the Best Ride-Pulling Service for Short Distances
Transportation infrastructure status in Eunpyeong New Town. Areas marked with red circles are concentrated residential districts without access to public transport
The reason that Eunpyeong New Town was designated for the pilot program is that the transportation infrastructure is not sufficient enough for 57,800 residents(October 2019) to use. There are only one subway station and four city buses. Senior citizens and children had a hard time living in the town.
Hyundai Motors is planning to operate six vans and will continue to improve the service quality, including more accurate waiting time information and better operation based on the real-time traffic information technology. For example, the service could operate more Shucle vans during rush-hours.
The Future Of Daily Mobility
Hyundai Motors plans to upgrade its Shucle service to a bigger mobility platform that provides multiple mobility services
After analyzing various data about population, transportation infrastructure, and transportation demand, Hyundai plans to expand the service to 17 different areas. Hyundai will provide the best community mobility service solution to build the future city transportation system. By collaborating with local transportation providers, Hyundai Motors as a smart mobility solution provider seeks to develop more ways of mobility for passengers.
Shucle will improve the quality of public transportation by huge
Shucle will make the residents move much more freely and solve the traffic congestion by reducing private vehicles. If every Shucle van is eco-friendly, they will improve the quality of our lives even more.
The Real-time Optimal Routing technology using Artificial Intelligence will become a key factor that changes the future mobility including autonomous cars. Self-driving cars will require such technologies to run without a human driver to decide which route to take.
At the CES, Hyundai recently unveiled its mobility solution for a dynamic human-centered future, called the Purpose Built Vehicle. The PBV is a new urban mobility solution that can accommodate a wide spectrum of future lifestyles with limitless personalization. With services like Shucle, it will allow passengers to enjoy tailored services while traveling to their destinations, offering a whole new take on the concept of mobility beyond a means of transportation.
