Goal of VRU Guard
“On construction sites, a single moment of inattention can be fatal. We make construction sites safer by enabling people and machines to communicate with each other.”
In busy and confusing work environments, a single moment of inattention can have serious consequences. Think of situations where heavy equipment is operating in the vicinity of road workers, cyclists or pedestrians.
With short-range communication (V2X), VRU Guard makes vulnerable road users visible to vehicles and drivers, even before they themselves notice the danger. Together with innovative construction companies and technology partners, V-tron is developing this system to reduce the risk of collisions and thus save lives.
V2X communication can thus save human lives!
Project approach
VRU Guard works with smart tags and vehicle units that continuously communicate with each other. This makes people in the vicinity of vehicles immediately visible and alerts them. Here’s how it works:
- Smart tag for work site personnel: integrated into a helmet or portable unit, transmits and receives a short-range signal.
- Vehicle unit with display: in the cab, the driver can see exactly how many people are in the green, yellow and red zones.
- Immediate warning for road workers: the tag can vibrate, make a sound or light up as soon as a vehicle comes too close.
- Additional safety check: if someone is in the red zone, the driver must stop and check that everyone is safe.
- Prevention of “invisible” persons: comparison of detection in the vehicle with the number of active tags prevents anyone from being overlooked.
Contact V-tron:
Expected results:
The first tests and a live demo during Smart Infra Experience 2025 demonstrated the simplicity and effectiveness of VRU Guard. Visitors immediately recognised its added value and showed great interest. Rapid implementation in the work areas therefore seems imminent.
V-tron is ready for widespread application of VRU Guard.
Request a demonstration today.
In the future, consideration will also be given to possibilities for vehicles to brake automatically when people are detected who have not been identified by the driver as “regular work relations”.
Challenges
The partners of VRU Guard are actively working on solutions to make the system as user-friendly and effective as possible, such as:
- Reliable detection of both tag carriers and non-carriers via radar or AI cameras.
- A warning signal that is always audible and visible, even in noisy environments or bright sunlight.
- Simple and rapid availability of tags and vehicle units for subcontractors.
- Ability to automatically brake vehicles in case of danger.
Project partners:
The dPBM project is a privately funded project based on corporate social responsibility on the part of the partners.
