Drones light up roads for cyclists

The School of Engineering (JTH) at Jönköping University (JU) is participating in the research project “Skara Skyddsängel” (Skara Guardian Angel), where drones are replacing the traditional type of road lighting on unlit and smaller cycle paths.

“The purpose of this project is to develop an innovative solution to increase the safety and comfort for cyclists during the darker periods of the year, so that people can continue to use their bicycle,” says Bruce Ferwerda, Associate Professor in Computer Science at JTH, who participates in the project.

Worse traffic safety and a feeling of insecurity and loneliness can contribute to that many people do not use their bicycle during the winter. This is what Skara Guardian Angel project wants to remedy through an on-demand system where drones illuminate the road ahead of the cyclist. By making it possible for people to use their bicycle all year, both human health and the environment are promoted. Several cyclists have been interviewed in the project.

"Completely workable"

“This is a cost-effective way to add to areas without road lighting with the help of automation and digitization, and to increase safety for the cyclist. We are not done yet, but our vision is completely workable and we hope to be able to continue develop the concept even more in the future.”

Skara Guardian Angel is coordinated by the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) and is carried out in collaboration with the University of Skövde, Jönköping University and Skara municipality. The University of Skövde leads the work with user studies and the project is financed by Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency.

Read more and watch a film about Skara Skyddsängel here