Riding all terrain vehicles is a massive part of life in New Brunswick. You see them on trails and frozen lakes across the province. But the hobby carries serious risks. Statistics Canada reports an average of 100 people die in ATV accidents every year across the country. Rollovers cause nearly half of those fatalities.

Now a team of engineers at the University of New Brunswick has a solution. According to a recent report from CBC News, they spent the last five years developing a vehicle that uses advanced math to prevent crashes.

Meet Marv

The team calls their creation Marv. That stands for multi actuated research vehicle. It features independent steering, torque and brake controls for every single wheel. This design allows the vehicle to make real time decisions to stop accidents before they happen.

“It can also sense a lot of what the vehicle is doing, its own wheel motion, the entire vehicle’s motion,” said Kush Bubbar, the associate professor leading the project at UNB. “And then using some advanced algorithms, we can actually predict what the interactions of the tire has with the terrain.”

The driver stays in complete control. However the vehicle assists by making smart adjustments to prevent rollovers on sudden slopes or changing terrain.

Why Math Beats Artificial Intelligence

You hear about artificial intelligence everywhere today. But the UNB team refuses to use it for Marv. They tested AI early in the project and found it too unreliable for life or death safety situations.

“There’s no guarantee that AI is going to make a choice that doesn’t harm people and that in itself was a deal breaker for us,” Bubbar said.

Instead Marv relies entirely on complex math and algorithms. Off roading conditions involve unpredictable elements like loose sand and jagged rocks. Algorithms provide the certainty needed to keep riders safe.

Global Attention and Future Plans

This New Brunswick innovation is already turning heads globally. The UNB team now meets monthly with Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the Swedish car manufacturer Volvo.

Ben Deboer is the PhD student who moved from Ontario to New Brunswick specifically to develop Marv. He owns the intellectual property for the technology that will eventually hit the consumer market.

Bubbar expects manufacturers will embed this new safety technology into commercial ATVs within the next five years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Marv?

Marv is a multi actuated research vehicle created by engineers at the University of New Brunswick to test new safety technology for ATVs.

How does this technology prevent ATV accidents?

The system uses independent wheel controls and advanced algorithms to read the terrain and adjust steering and braking in real time. This prevents the vehicle from rolling over.

Does the new ATV technology use AI?

No. The engineering team determined artificial intelligence is too unpredictable for off road safety. They use strict mathematical algorithms instead.

When will this technology be available to buy?

Researchers expect the technology will be integrated into new commercial ATVs within the next five years.