The long view on autonomous driving is vehicles that can effectively see and communicate with the world around them–pedestrians, infrastructure, other vehicles, etc…While full-blown self-driving vehicles are still in their infancy, Qualcomm has announced a new chipset that lays the groundwork for supporting multi-faceted communication between a vehicle and the world around it. The new cellular-based vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) chipset is based on standards contained in 3GPP’s Release 14.
C-V2X includes direct communications and network-based communications. Direct communications are transmitted in the 5.9 GHz band and connect the vehicle to other vehicles, pedestrians and infrastructure. The network-based connection leverages licensed spectrum for telematics, infotainment and other types of services.
Qualcomm VP of Product Management Nakul Duggal said C-V2X “offers benefits to the automotive industry by developing new capabilities for improving road safety, and enhancing autonomous driving and advanced connected services, while building on the ITS momentum and investments made over the last decade. C-V2X is expected to support safer roads, increase productivity and decrease traffic congestion.”
Execs from automakers Ford and Audi both expressed interest in the 9150 C-V2X chipset.
Audi Head of Electrics/Electronics called the new silicon “a major milestone in paving the road for 5G and safer autonomous driving,” and Ford Connected Vehicle and Services Executive Director Don Butler called it a “critical technology to improve vehicle safety and efficiency.
