Blue Vigil, a developer of autonomous safety technology, announced today it will kick off the beta trials of its new Autonomous Aerial LED (ALED), a person-portable light powered by drone technology, the major advancement in portable lighting for the construction market. The startup will display the ALED at World of Concrete, January 23 – 25, in the North Hall, booth N872 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The fully-subscribed, paid beta program is made up of 12 customers, including top-tier construction companies, state-level transportation agencies, and some of the largest public safety departments in the United States. Beta program participants will provide feedback from field use that will be instrumental in shaping future versions of the product. Beta trials will begin during the first quarter of 2024, with general availability beginning in the third quarter.
“Poor lighting is a major contributing factor to safety incidents, productivity loss and quality issues on nighttime sites,” said Robert Schumann, CEO, Blue Vigil. “The ALED represents the first significant advancement of portable light towers in nearly 40 years.”
The ALED is a compact area lighting system that uses a purpose-built, tethered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), also known as a drone, to optimally position a high-intensity LED array from 40 feet (12 meters) to 100 feet (30.5 meters) above a job site, keeping it there for as long as needed.
“Because the ALED illuminates a work area from directly above, the improvement in light field size and quality is significant and obvious,” said Schumann. “The ALED’s portability also means it can be positioned more optimally on a site. These are big wins in a global market that is eager for a better solution.”
The ALED puts more than 8,000 square feet (743 square meters) of light on the ground providing nearly twice as much coverage as traditional towed light towers. When illuminating a work zone from 40 feet to 100 feet above, light shines directly down onto the area of operation, without creating the dangerous glare and shadows that negatively affect workers, residential environments, wildlife, and motorists.
Blue Vigil’s ALED portable light is designed for large horizontal civil construction projects, such as ramps, bridges, and flyways as well as public safety, agriculture, and asphalt paving. In the concrete industry, for example, rebar can cause tripping accidents at night due to shadows and glare caused by traditional lights. Illuminating a work area from directly above eliminates the shadows and glare that create hazardous conditions for workers. The ALED’s large light field also minimizes the need to continually reposition the lights as the job progresses.
The ALED is purpose-built to withstand the rigors of use in the field and on construction sites. The all-weather light is enclosed in a rugged, person-portable wheeled case that can easily be positioned wherever lights are needed. Because it can be easily moved and repositioned, it reduces the need to have heavy light towers stationed in areas where they aren't always needed.
Weighing 90 pounds (34 kg), the ALED fits into a pickup or SUV and does not require a trailer or towing, making it easy to transport, position and store. Highly energy efficient, and 50 percent less costly to operate, the ALED can be powered by wall/shore power, a smaller, quieter portable 3000 W generator, or a vehicle inverter.
The startup’s breakthrough person-portable light won the 2023 American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Innovation Award, as well as the 2023 Loudon Innovation Challenge.
The product will initially be available in North and South America in limited quantities. Blue Vigil is actively looking to expand its dealer network. Potential customers, dealers and investors may contact [email protected] for more information.
