Partners Target Advanced Navigation Algorithms

Scotland-based Route Monkey Ltd. is teaming up with Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh to develop new navigation algorithms that optimize route guidance based on multiple criteria.

The partnership initially will support Scotland's 1.5 million ($2.3-million) National Scheduling Platform project, which aims to create a Web-based route and scheduling system for fleets and passenger vehicles that maximizes economic, environmental and societal benefits. Funded through Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland, the platform is due to launch next year.

Route Monkey employs two postdoctoral researchers, who specialize in optimization and mobility algorithms, to work on the program. They are assisted on a part-time basis by the head of Heriot-Watt University's intelligent systems lab.

Route Monkey was founded in 2009 to develop algorithms focusing on energy usage and low-carbon vehicles that provide route optimization and scheduling software for transportation managers based on real-time inputs across the fleet organization.

The company has applied that work to hybrid and electric vehicles by tracking such additional parameters as driving range, battery status, charging points, weight-to-discharge ratio, topography, temperature, driver profile, cost and return on investment The company claims its technology can reduce fleet costs by 20% and substantially lower emissions.