ITMO: Car4U Car Selection Service

Car4U is a digital assistant in choosing the ideal car for each person, and we are talking not only about new cars, but also about supported ones. His work is based on a complex of machine learning models. If ordinary sites upload information from only two or three sources, then this service "explores" data from more than ten. He studies hundreds of buyer reviews, car sales announcements, technical specifications, information about existing trim levels, as well as statistics on hijackings and accidents. In addition, Car4U helps calculate the potential costs of maintaining the machine: fuel costs, maintenance, duties and taxes and an annual decrease in the cost of a car of a particular brand, taking into account the year of its production.

2022: Car4U Development

Scientists at the National Center for Cognitive Development of ITMO University (NCCR) have developed a service based on artificial intelligence for selecting Car4U cars. In addition to analyzing technical characteristics, reviews and statistics on accidents, using the service, you can evaluate the potential costs of maintaining the car. All these data the user receives in the form of understandable infographics - this information will help to make a weighted decision on the purchase of a car. This was announced by ITMO University on January 11, 2022.

To find a "dream car," the user has enough in general terms to imagine what qualities the car should have. First, you need to evaluate on a ten-point scale how important cross-country ability, comfort, economy, dynamics, safety and its appearance are, and then indicate the purpose of the acquisition: for example, take children to school or travel, including off-road. Based on this data, the service displays a selection of suitable options with a rating of one to ten by basic parameters. The user receives information in the form of a simple and understandable infographic.

First of all, the service is useful for drivers who perceive the car only as a convenient means of transportation and who are not ready to spend their time studying numerous technical intricacies when buying the car. But experienced drivers will also be able to benefit greatly: if you wish, you can make a finer adjustment of your preferences - for example, by car brand, class, box, drive, type of fuel consumed, volume or engine power, "said Denis Nasonov, head of the Industrial AI Research Laboratory at the NCCR.

The service is available to everyone. It was created at the NCCR and finalized in partnership with Setel Bank, which provided real data for training algorithms. As of January 2021, developers are carefully investigating the behavior of users on the site in order to polish the software solution and product interface. In the future, they will significantly expand the functionality, turning the instant recommendation service into a full-fledged motorist's satellite, indispensable at every stage: from choosing a car to its operation and sale.