Highways England has released a video of a second automated cone laying vehicle that is now undergoing off-road trials in the UK.
The government-owned company said it has been working with industry experts to develop vehicles that will take out the human element involved in putting out cones.
It said its own experts as well as those from Kier, HW Martin Traffic Management and competitors Highway Care and King are working together in a collaborative effort to resolve what it described as a ‘potential safety risk’.
Cones are currently put out by two people on the rear of a vehicle working in tandem, usually working at night and in all weather and lifting up to six tonnes in cones per shift. Highways England said automated vehicles will improve safety and free up workers for other tasks.
It has supported the project through its Innovation Designated Fund and established a minimum standard while the companies themselves have developed the vehicles.
Two vehicles have been developed. The first, developed by Highways Care, has completed on-road trials and can now be taken out to the marketplace for use on the strategic road network.
The second vehicle (above), developed by King Highway Products, is being put through extensive off-road testing at Manston Airport in Kent. Highways England described this vehicle as ‘quite different because King has opted for more of a revolver-style deployment with a huge rotating drum putting out and collecting the cones’.
Its head of lean and continuous improvement, Martin Bolt, who is leading the project, said: ‘The King vehicle is very innovative and quite something to see in action. The off-road tests have been extremely promising so far.
‘To watch these two vehicles develop from concept, to prototype, testing and ultimately being used on our roads is incredibly rewarding and we are looking forward to both being routinely used for roadworks on our network.’
King Group director James Richmond said: ‘We are very proud to have developed this innovative machine in conjunction with our partners at Verdegro, whilst working alongside Highways England, Kier, and HW Martin.
‘The unique design enables it to be used as a multi-purpose vehicle, negating the requirement for an Impact Protection Vehicle whilst setting out the signs and taper. The vehicle utilizes standard one metre cones, which are laid and collected in a continuous cycle via the rotating barrel.
‘We look forward to continuing the off-road testing to prove the machine’s reliability, before moving to on-road trials later in the year.’
