The demo of C-V2X direct communication technology utilized vehicles from multiple auto manufacturers
The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), together with the BMW Group, Ford Motor Company, Groupe PSA and Qualcomm Technologies, have carried out what 5GAA claims to be Europe’s first live demonstration of cellular vehicle-to-everything direct communication technology operating across vehicles from multiple auto manufacturers.
The demonstration featured a live showcase of C-V2X direct communication technology operating between passenger cars, motorcycles, and roadside infrastructure. C-V2X is a global solution for vehicle-to-everything communication in support of improved automotive safety, automated driving and traffic efficiency, 5GAA said.
The demonstration exhibited the road safety and traffic efficiency benefits of using C-V2X for Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) collision avoidance, as well as Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) connectivity to traffic signals and Traffic Management Centers (TMC). C-V2X was operated using real-time direct communications over ITS spectrum and demonstrated its ability to work without cellular network coverage.
A total of six demonstrations were shown including: emergency electronic brake lights, intersection collision warnings, across-traffic-turn collision risk warnings, slow vehicle warnings and stationary vehicle warnings, signal phase and timing/signal violation warnings and vulnerable road user (pedestrian) warnings.
“This demonstration builds on the successful C-V2X showcase we organized with our members Audi, Ford and Qualcomm in Washington DC in April,” said Christoph Voigt, chairman of 5GAA. “We are excited to witness the growing momentum behind this life-saving technology and to see our members working together to deploy C-V2X, and to make it hit the road as soon as possible.”
The vehicles involved included two-wheel e-scooters provided by BMW Group and automotive passenger vehicles provided by Ford, Groupe PSA, and BMW Group, all of which were equipped with C-V2X direct communication technology using the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset solution. V2X software stack and application software, along with roadside infrastructure, were provided by Savari.
“This demonstration of interoperability between multiple automakers is not only another milestone achieved towards C-V2X deployment, but also further validates the commercial viability and global compatibility of C-V2X direct communications for connected vehicles,” said Enrico Salvatori, senior vice president & president, Qualcomm Europe and MEA.
The 5GAA involves over 85 global members comprised of many leading automakers, Tier-1 suppliers, software developers, mobile operators, semiconductor companies, test equipment vendors, telecom suppliers, traffic signal suppliers and road operators.
5GAA also highlighted that cellular modems will be key to the C-V2X deployment in vehicles to support telematics, eCall, connected infotainment and delivering useful driving/traffic/parking information. As C-V2X direct communication functionality is integrated into the cellular modem, C-V2X solutions are expected to be more cost-efficient and economical over competing technologies,and benefit from accelerated attach rates. The association said that C-V2X direct communication field validations are currently underway in Germany, France, Korea, China, Japan and the U.S.
