Soracom has launched a proof-of-concept (PoC) using IoT to commercialise Japanese car maker Suzuki’s micro e-mobility platform, which applies electric wheelchair technology to provide mobility for robots in logistics and other applications.

The concept has been developed by Suzuki to serve as a platform for industrial robots by leveraging mobility technology cultivated over the years of electric wheelchair development for improved stability and manoeuvrability. By combining autonomous driving, AI and other technologies with this mobility platform, the initiative aims to address problems in various fields, such as logistics, snow removal, civil engineering and construction, and measurement and monitoring.

The Versatile platform will leverage Soracom IoT technology and a communication module to enable real-time cloud connectivity for vehicle operation status updates and GPS-based location tracking.

By observing how the Versatile concept is used across different applications, the PoC aims to provide insights for future product development and potentially explore customer-centric services such as support and maintenance.

The launch of the PoC follows an agreement Soracom and Suzuki (www.globalsuzuki.com) signed a year ago to promote IoT technologies in mobility applications, and collaborate to create services that can serve as the infrastructure for business and daily life with an eye towards a more sustainable future.

Soracom (www.Soracom.io) is a technology partner to more than 20,000 start-ups, SMBs and enterprises. It offers products designed to make it easier to build, operate and scale IoT deployments.