ReturnLoads.net can report that a development by the University of Leicester is set to change HGVs navigation systems.
A device has been developed to provide route planning and guidance far in advance of any sat-nav system currently on the market.
The new device that is codenamed Saturn, unlike any current planner plots routes by means of an algorithm that takes into account 25 live data streams. These include seemingly esoteric data, such as routes that are affected by excessive noise or low air quality as well as more usual metrics such as traffic density and road closures.
The development of the system has been made possible by a branch of the European Commission’s Competitiveness and Innovations programme. The platform itself uses data from Copernicus – a European network of satellite data and information collected from ground-based sensors located on the roadside and elsewhere.
The Professor of Earth Observation Science at the University of Leicester, Paul Monks said, “We know that you can route freight more efficiently through urban areas with improvements to air quality and movement. We also know that there are a number of ‘escape corridors’ in European cities, where plotting the right route is vital. A classic example is the old chestnut of lorries getting stuck under low bridges. Because of the multiple data streams used on our platform, we can plot very intelligent routes that take into account weather and road surface conditions.”
Prototypes of the system will run on regular tablet computers such as iOS & Android devices, although the university hopes to develop an OE system when trials are complete.
Saturn has not been the only CV telemetry development this week. OE manufacturer Bosch announced a deal to supply coach maker Setra with its Eco.Logic Motion system. This set-up ‘learns’ roads by creating a digital map known as an ‘event horizon’. The information can then be used to advise the driver of gear and throttle position changes ahead of when they are needed
ReturnLoads.net will report more on this story when the news becomes available.
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This news piece was written by Richard Newbold, Managing Partner of Returnloads.net. Richard has decades of experience in the haulage industry and you can also follow him on
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