Local Motors is partnering with robotics technology group Robotic Research on Olli, an electric, autonomous shuttle. The partnership with Robotic Research is the latest integration of a new technology partner into Local Motors’ open development platform.

Robotic Research is known for providing robust autonomous mobility and ancillary technologies for the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. In 2014, Robotic Research was recognized for its extraordinary success in a White House ceremony with the SBIR Tibbetts Award, which honors small business leaders in innovative technologies.

Since its inception in 2002, Robotic Research has been involved in most of the Army’s autonomous vehicle programs such as Demo III, VTI, FCS-ANS, Robotics CTA, CAMS JCTD, SUSI, SANDI and AGR. Within the last three years, Robotic Research has been transitioning its autonomous technology to autonomous transportation applications, starting with the ARIBO program at Fort Bragg. To date, Robotic Research has driven tens of thousands of miles autonomously in some of the harshest environments around the world.

It is a great honor to partner with Local Motors in providing the AutoDrive autonomy kit for Olli. We see Olli as an innovator in the slow-speed shuttle market and we are fully committed to support the systems and serve communities around the world.

—Alberto Lacaze, president and senior engineer at Robotic Research