More details have been announced of a project which aims to determine whether driverless trucks can be used to deliver parts in the North East’s automotive supply chain.
The pilot project will see 5G technology used in an operational automotive environment for the first time in the 海角视频, with internet-of-things company North designing and building a £4.9m system close to the Vantec and Nissan plants in Sunderland.
North will work with 5G company Nokia to investigate the logistics of automating a 40-tonne HGV in last-mile deliveries.
READ MORE: {}
Funding for the project was secured by a consortium which involves the North East Automotive Alliance, Sunderland City Council, Newcastle University, Coventry University, Connected Places Catapult, StreetDrone and Perform Green.
Around half of the funding came from the 5G Create programme, a Government scheme to investigate new ways to use 5G technology in industrial settings.
North will put the infrastructure in place required to test and demonstrate the operational 5G-enabled autonomous delivery.
It is hoped the pilot will enable the removal of the driver from the process and allow remote tele-operations to control the vehicles, which can carry up to 40 tonnes of materials.
North chief executive Glen Williams said: “This is a significant milestone for 5G standalone technology in the 海角视频.
Most Read
“We know that the potential of 5G is tremendous.
“However, to realise it, we need to see more innovative projects such as this being driven forward across different sectors and 海角视频 regions.
“We were selected to fully design and deliver the next generation connectivity for this pilot because of our exceptional track record for delivering high-performance innovative solutions, including our unique end-to-end approach, which provides clients with a full service.
“This is coupled with our specific experience of delivering 5G technology and our partnership with Nokia, a global leader in 5G.
Sign up for your daily BusinessLive North East newsletter
You can get all the day's business news from the North East sent to your email inbox each morning.
By signing up here, we will deliver the headlines from companies in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, County Durham and Teesside straight to your email inbox every morning.
Our specialist team of business writers will bring you stories from a range of sectors, reporting on companies large and small.
“We are looking forward to working with all of the stakeholders to take the technology out of the test bed and into a safe and controlled operational manufacturing environment for the first time.”
Paul Butler, chief executive of the North East Automobile Alliance, said: “5G-enabled automated logistics is the next key innovation drive for last-mile logistics across the automotive sector.
Don’t miss
“This project has the potential to deliver significant efficiency gains and put the North East at the forefront of connected and automated logistics technology.
“I am delighted that North, and partner Nokia, were successful.
“They bring with them vast knowledge and experience which will be a major benefit to the project.”
Digital infrastructure minister Matt Warman said: “Ensuring we put the power of 5G to good use in our economy is front and centre of our efforts to build back better.
“We are leading the charge of this tech revolution by investing £200m in cutting-edge trials across the 海角视频.”
He added: “I’m looking forward to seeing how the project in Sunderland can use 5G to boost industrial productivity through the use of driverless vehicles.”