Testimonials 5G Standalone makes crash absorbers safer

Working along the highway, carrying out works such as repairing the surface or mowing the roadside, is inherently dangerous. Crash absorbers help secure the worksite. These are trucks equipped with a safety system that absorbs the impact in the event of a collision. While they protect workers, the drivers of the crash absorbers themselves are exposed to danger. 

On average, there are four incidents a week involving these vehicles. This demonstrates that crash absorbers are indispensable, but also that the drivers face a very hazardous job. This led Movias, a consultancy for smart mobility, to explore solutions. “With Fero Group, which manages around 100 crash absorbers, we developed a solution to control the trucks remotely,” says Isaak Yperman, Smart Mobility Expert at Movias. “Our aim is to remove drivers from these dangerous situations.”

Ultra-low latency: instant response

To allow remote operation of a crash absorber, six cameras provide a full view of the surroundings. Mobility expert V-Tron supplies the technology that enables the truck to receive remote commands such as accelerating, braking and steering. Orange Business 5G Standalone brings these together, enabling the remote operation of the crash absorber.

A control centre has been set up for this remote operation at Fero in Willebroek, Antwerp province. It relies on the ultra-low latency of 5G, with minimal delay in data transmission. “We’re talking less than 20 milliseconds,” explains Erik Van Lierde, 5G Innovator at Orange Business. “The operator sees almost in real time, via video streams, what’s happening with and around the truck. When a command to accelerate or brake is given, it happens immediately.”

Guaranteed connection

However, it’s not only low latency that makes 5G the right technology for this project. A guaranteed connection is equally important. This is where 5G Standalone makes the difference. On the public 5G network, the application is assigned a dedicated bandwidth. This “slice”, or segment of the network, is used exclusively for communication between the control centre and the crash absorber, ensuring a reliable connection.

This will be particularly important as Fero begins using the system on public roads. Traffic jams are common near roadworks. In a limited area, many smartphones and GPS devices connect to local antennas, potentially saturating the network. With 5G Standalone, Orange Business ensures that Fero always has a guaranteed connection on these antennas. “This is simply impossible with 4G,” says Van Lierde.

An interesting intermediate step

“Crash absorbers typically operate in groups of three,” explains Isaak Yperman. “The first truck is 500 metres from the worksite, the second 80 metres and the third 30 metres. Even when the heavy data streams from all three trucks pass through the same antenna, they always receive the necessary bandwidth thanks to 5G Standalone.”

After successful trials on Fero’s site, a test phase followed at the Port of Antwerp, and then on public roads. “It will take some time before autonomous vehicles appear on public roads,” says Yperman. “Technologically it’s feasible, but legislation isn’t yet ready. Remote vehicle operation offers an interesting intermediate step, not just for crash absorbers but also for trucks or forklifts.”

Stress-free operation

Crash absorbers are ideal for further refining the technology. “They don’t travel constantly over long distances but move gradually, for example with a team marking road lines,” says Yperman. “What’s more, with their flashing lights and large warning signs, they’re very noticeable in traffic. The fact that we can improve traffic flow without a driver in the crash absorbers, meaning without a stressed driver facing potential collisions, is entirely thanks to 5G.”