tl;dr
Volkswagen ADMT is partnering with Bee Maps, which uses Hivemapper’s Solana-based network to collect real-time street-level data from drivers with specialized dashcams. This data, converted by machine learning into detailed map features, is recorded on the blockchain and updated frequently. Volkswag...
Volkswagen ADMT, the automaker’s autonomous-driving subsidiary, is partnering with Bee Maps to source real-time street-level data. Bee Maps operates on Hivemapper’s Solana-based mapping network, aggregating imagery from drivers equipped with proprietary dashcams. These dashcams capture footage that machine-learning models convert into detailed map features like lane markings, signage, and temporary work zones. Contributors earn HONEY tokens, incentivizing the creation of highly current mapping data.
This collaboration aims to transform mapping from static snapshots into a dynamic, continuously updated resource. Bee Maps’ data is recorded on the Solana blockchain and now covers a significant portion of global roads, updating more frequently than traditional fleet-car surveys. The aggregated data is sold via APIs that support routing, localization, and curb management, now extending to robotaxi developers including Volkswagen ADMT.
Volkswagen ADMT currently operates about 30 autonomous ID.Buzz electric minivans in Hamburg and plans to expand with thousands more units in Los Angeles in partnership with Uber, targeting fully driverless service by late 2026. Each vehicle’s sensor suite generates roughly five gigabytes of data per second but relies on external maps for navigation in difficult conditions. Bee Maps will provide live road feature updates, enhancing ADMT’s perception system and enabling more precise maneuvers without the need for manual survey vehicles.
This partnership exemplifies the growing momentum of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs) supplying vital data to established industries. Similar initiatives include Lyft’s pilot of Hivemapper data for improved ride-hail drop zones and logistics companies leveraging the APIs to monitor height restrictions and speed limits. For Volkswagen, crowdsourced data promises faster responses to edge cases and accelerated software updates as the ID.Buzz robotaxi fleet scales across Europe and North America, with no regulatory hurdles since data transfer happens off-board.