– The new light beacon, designed and developed by CAR-LITE, will send automatic alerts to the relevant road safety authorities and geolocalize precisely the location of failed vehicles, without the need for Internet connection, Wi-Fi or SIM cards, based on Sigfox 0G network.
– The solution will cover virtually the entire road network, thanks to the scope of Sigfox 0G network, present in 75 countries, and is particularly useful in isolated areas where there is no mobile or Internet connection.
– This light beacon is specifically designed for the Internet of Things (IoT): its data and energy consumption are very low and allow it to offer a more competitive price thanks to 0G communications.
Madrid, Spain – December 17th, 2021 – Sigfox, a world’s leading IoT communication service provider and 0G network pioneer, and CAR-LITE, a leading Spanish company in the design and manufacture of emergency signalling beacons for cars, have launched a new smart beacon model base on IoT technology and Sigfox 0G network.
The new beacon has been designed and developed by CAR-LITE and its technology will enable automatic alerts to be sent to the relevant road safety authorities and will precisely geolocate the location of damaged vehicles, without the need for an Internet connection, Wi-Fi or SIM cards, as it is based on Sigfox 0G network, the first global network designed by and for the IoT. Both companies will collaborate to launch this product throughout Europe (Spain pending approval), thanks to the deployment of Sigfox 0G network, already present in 75 countries worldwide.
This solution will allow public and assistance services to be alerted so that they can react more quickly to emergencies and warn other drivers by means of real-time road signs.
The new Sigfox and CAR-LITE model makes it possible to geolocate damaged vehicles by GPS in real time and in a very efficient way, providing very valuable and actionable information to road safety authorities throughout Europe, infrastructure management companies, freight transport or traffic control authorities, among others, speeding up the management and resolution of the incident and accidents.
In addition, CAR-LITE devices based on Sigfox technology are battery operated to ensure independence from a rechargeable battery. The device may be compatible with the connected car platforms of the various competent authorities in each country.
Furthermore, the approach of this solution is specifically designed for the Internet of Things: its data and energy consumption are very low. In addition, both the cost of the Sigfox-based communications device and the cost of communications over the life of the beacon are lower than those of technological solutions used in the past. Moreover, the cost of communications is independent of the country where the beacon is used.
The model created by CAR-LITE is a small round beacon that emits a light visible up to one kilometre away when attached to the roof of the damaged car. The solution does not require getting out of the vehicle to place it, which is safer than traditional warning triangles and will help reduce fatalities in the event of accidents while connecting people, roads, authorities and vehicles.
0G to ensure the safety of drivers at all times
According to Carlos Alonso, CEO of CAR-LITE, and Rebecca Crowe, Managing Director of Sigfox Spain, “we are delighted to be able to put the scalability and broad scope of our network at the service of a solution that is set to significantly improve safety on our roads, in line with the strategy of the European authorities responsible for road safety, whose objective is to minimise accidents and emissions. We are proud to have been able to help launch a pioneering initiative at European level”.
Use cases
About CAR-LITE
The CAR-LITE V16 emergency beacon is activated by a button to prevent accidental ignition, and is used by lowering the window and placing it activated on the roof by magnets. It is approved according to the technical specifications set by the Council of Ministers in November 2020 as reflected in Royal Decree 97/2020.
Technical requirements to be a V16 emergency light approved and authorised by the DGT:
– To be visible at a distance of 1 km 360º horizontally and 8º vertically.
– Emit flashing yellow light at 40/80 flashes per minute.
– Visible in all weather conditions IP54 and drops IK04
– Operates at temperatures from -10.ºC to 50.ºC
– Can be used without leaving the vehicle
– Power supply in the absence of electricity flow and battery life of 18 months.
The fact that it works with a battery makes recharging as easy as changing the battery and makes it possible to prolong the life of the emergency light even if the damaged and/or accident vehicle has no electrical current.
About Sigfox
Sigfox is a world’s leading IoT (Internet of Things) communication service provider and 0G network pioneer. Sigfox offers a unique combination of ultra-low cost and ultra-low power solutions enabled by a single global network, owned and operated by 75 Sigfox Operators, enabling businesses to gain visibility and track their assets worldwide. With more than 19 million connected devices and 75 million messages sent a day, Sigfox helps its customers to extract data at the lowest cost of production and accelerate their digital transformation in key areas such as asset tracking and monitoring.
ISO 9001 certified and supported by a strong partner ecosystem, Sigfox was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Labège, France, with offices in Boston, Dallas, Dubai, Madrid, Paris, Sao Paulo, Singapore, and Tokyo.
