UGent Racing Speeds Through Unreliable Connections with Peplink
UGent Racing, a European non-profit, student-run organization, designs and builds self-driving race cars to compete in international Formula Student competitions. Using electric autonomous vehicles, they rely on connectivity to access the electronic control unit (ECU) of their race cars using Secure Shell (SSH) protocol for real-time monitoring.
Challenge
For competitions like the Driverless Cup, where UGent Racing is unable to remain physically close to their vehicle, remote monitoring is essential for viewing the car’s data and updating the ECU code in real time. However, their previous connectivity setup, which used a small router installed inside the vehicle, was unreliable.
While it fit within the compact confines of the race car, the router frequently experienced dropped connections and periods of inaccessibility, leaving the team without critical information. To overcome these issues, UGent Racing needed an affordable and compact solution that offered significantly better performance without compromising on space or weight.
Solution
After connecting with Frontier EU, UGent Racing upgraded their vehicle’s connectivity setup by installing a BR1 Pro 5G router. This compact yet high-performance device proved ideal for their race car, delivering robust connectivity without requiring more space or adding unnecessary weight.
The BR1 Pro 5G leverages cellular connectivity provided by Frontier EU to ensure the vehicle remains reliably connected, even while racing at high speeds around the track. To further enhance connectivity and improve signal range, UGent Racing paired the router with a Mobility 42G antenna. This combination offers exceptional coverage and stability, enabling seamless data transmission for real-time monitoring and diagnostics during their competitions.
Result
The implementation of this Peplink solution empowers UGent Racing to monitor their race car in real time and track critical performance metrics. The seamless data transmission enables their team to efficiently perform tasks such as live coding whether it’s during testing or at competitions.
The reliability demonstrated by this Peplink pairing has left a lasting impression on UGent Racing, fueling their excitement to integrate Peplink technology into their next-generation vehicle. With the design and construction already underway, dedicated space has been reserved in the new vehicle for the BR1 Pro 5G. This strategic planning highlights their confidence in Peplink’s ability to deliver uninterrupted connectivity, enabling UGent Racing to push the boundaries of performance and innovation on the track.
“The Peplink Max BR1 Pro 5G has provided us with a reliable connection, which is essential for efficient testing and troubleshooting on the track.”
“With the Peplink router, we can monitor real-time data and quickly respond to any issues. This makes our test days significantly more productive.”
“Thanks to the 4G connectivity of the Peplink router, team members can monitor the car remotely—even from home—when it’s on the track.”
“The Peplink router offers the perfect balance between compactness and performance, ideal for integration in a race car where space is limited.”
UGent Racing Team
Deployment
- Installed in the race car with cellular connectivity
- Enables remote access and live data sharing
- Slim form factor to fit design constraints
- Added to the race car
- Extends cellular signal range
- Robust IP68 housing to withstand high speeds and temperatures
