Septentrio deploys GPS/GNSS receivers for Belgium’s smart highway

Belgium is rolling out its first smart highway test environment where Septentrio GPS/GNSS receivers will help cars communicate with each together to avoid collisions.

Under the collaboration, Septentrio GPS/GNSS has been integrated into vehicles and infrastructure to offer accurate location, supporting sensor fusion in driverless navigation and truck platooning.

Through the test environment on a dedicated section of highway, Belgium aims to prepare for automated driving and truck platooning.

Septentrio has installed its GNSS receivers at roadside units along the highway. Serving as reference stations, these units will send continuous positioning corrections.

Using these corrections together with built-in quality indicators, the on-board GNSS units will compute reliable, sub-decimetre positioning.

Additionally, the new technology will deliver accurate timing for syncing the multitude of sensors on the ‘smart vehicles’.

Septentrio business development director Jan Van Hees said: “We are excited to be a part of the smart highway testbed, which is aimed at improving road safety and traffic flow.

“The automotive ecosystem is undergoing a shift towards automation enabled by the latest technology in communications, sensors and precise positioning.

“Our role in this project builds upon our strategy to continue providing high-accuracy, reliable positioning solutions aimed at the automotive industry.”

The Advanced Interference Mitigation (AIM+) technology protects Septentrio receivers from interferences, including illegal jamming devices being used by trucks that can interfere with GPS signals used by other vehicles and infrastructure.

Smart highway is a government project also being supported by Septentrio, Toyota, Ericsson and Telenet as industry partners. UAntwerpen, UGent and other companies are research partners.