The creator of Pokémon Go, Niantic, is repurposing years of player-generated augmented reality (AR) data to help train autonomous delivery robots to navigate complex urban environments.
Now operating under the name Niantic Spatial, the company has partnered with robotics startup Coco to improve the navigation systems of its fleet of approximately 1,000 compact delivery vehicles.
Although popular titles such as Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now are now operated by Scopely, Niantic retains a vast archive of AR data collected over several years. This includes millions of voluntarily submitted scans of real-world locations by players, typically tied to in-game landmarks such as PokéStops and Gyms.
The company has emphasised that the data was consciously recorded and uploaded by users, and not collected passively.
Niantic Spatial says the dataset is being used to build a detailed AR map of the world, which could support future navigation technologies not only for people using AR-enabled devices, but also for autonomous systems such as delivery robots.
Chief Technology Officer Brian McClendon told MIT Technology Review that urban environments pose a major challenge for traditional GPS systems. He explained that dense clusters of buildings can interfere with location accuracy, sometimes causing position errors of up to 50 metres.
By contrast, AR-based mapping allows robots to better understand their surroundings and determine their precise location without relying solely on GPS signals.
Niantic Spatial founder and CEO John Hanke said the technology required to make virtual characters move realistically in AR environments is similar to what is needed for robots to safely navigate real-world spaces.
The company claims access to billions of urban images, which are now being used to train Coco’s delivery robots operating in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Jersey City, Miami and Helsinki.
Niantic believes that improving robots’ spatial awareness will be critical to integrating them into everyday urban life without disrupting pedestrians or traffic.
The initiative signals a growing overlap between gaming technology and real-world applications, as companies explore how immersive digital tools can be adapted for practical use.
Sourced IGN's News.