Potential Motors

Potential Motors, headquartered in Fredericton, NB, Canada, specializes in developing AI-powered perception tools that decode extreme environments and improve with every mile. The company uses forward-facing sensors and AI to innovate how vehicles interact with complex terrains, both off-road and on-road. Their flagship product, Terrain Intelligence, is a self-learning, on-vehicle software platform that interprets various terrain features using forward-facing sensors such as cameras, radar, or lidar. This technology is complemented by Off-Road OS, a complete control stack that enables vehicles to pre-emptively adjust driveline, suspension, and torque settings for optimal performance in challenging conditions. Potential Motors’ technology integrates seamlessly with both traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) and advanced electric vehicle platforms. The interdisciplinary team at Potential Motors includes engineers, data scientists, computer vision specialists, and AI and machine learning experts. They conduct extensive real-world development at their off-road test track, The Sandbox, and have built sophisticated off-road test vehicles equipped with individual wheel motors and active suspension. In 2022, they unveiled a design concept called Adventure 1, showcasing their vision for the future of off-roading. In 2023, they revealed core technologies such as Terrain Intelligence and Off-Road OS, which include automated driver aids and vehicle controls. Potential Motors collaborates with companies across various sectors, including automotive, powersports, defense, and mining. They have raised a total of $8.5 million since May 2020, with partners like Brightspark Ventures, Build Ventures, NBIF, and Farpointe. The company has partnered with a major manufacturer of recreational off-road vehicles and delivered innovation projects for a global automotive brand. They are also in discussions with five leading automotive companies for innovation programs in 2024. Terrain Intelligence can deliver multiple outputs, from presenting data to drivers to self-selecting vehicle control adjustments, and can run using conventional hardware found on most modern vehicles. The technology has been validated through over 3,000 hours of real-world testing across five countries and three continents. Potential Motors is currently developing solutions for CFMOTO Powersports Inc and was featured at the Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance showcase at CES in Las Vegas. The company focuses on advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) rather than autonomous vehicles (AV).