A new international research project will explore how 5G can help make transport and logistics more efficient through remote control (tele-operation) technology – including across borders.
Supported by a €10m grant from the European Union, the 5G Blueprint project will investigate how exchanging real-time data to and from vehicles, between terminals and vehicles and between vehicles and their head offices can contribute to greater efficiency in the supply chain and help mitigate driver shortages.
The project is a public-private partnership made up of 28 members from the Netherlands, Flanders, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, including the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Flemish Department for Mobility and Public Works, and port authorities North Sea Port and Port of Antwerp.
According to North Sea Port, the aim is to be able to remotely steer and support vehicles and vessels, including trucks, cars, pods and barges. As well as improving the accessibility of the North Sea Port (Vlissingen, Terneuzen and Ghent) to Antwerp logistics corridor, this is expected to increase employment and strengthen the region’s competitive position.
The three-year project will encompass a range of digital technologies and telecommunications and will also look at safety, costs and benefits, division of responsibilities, collaboration and standardisation.
Insights from the project will be applied directly in the region where possible. Additionally, the work is expected to help create a blueprint for subsequent pan-European deployment of tele-operated transport solutions in the logistics sector and beyond.
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