DRIVING INNOVATION
TECHNOLOGY
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“ Creating seamless connectivity systems ... is becoming an important focus for manufacturers ”
— Andreas Minatti , Head of Business Development , Business Unit Mobility , Datwyler
of understanding of the world that is equivalent to that of a toddler .”
As AVs ’ abilities to effectively process the world around them improves , however , the level of high-speed processing at the edge that 5G will enable is going to be an essential part of the technology ’ s development .
In a report by Deutsche Telekom , it was noted that , during initial 5G tests on the A9 freeway between Nuremberg and Munich , latencies of less than 20 milliseconds were achieved . This means that an autonomous car driving at a speed of 100 km / h would only travel 60 centimeters in the time it takes to interact with its network and receive instructions .
Currently , the report continues , “ sensors are used to implement carto-car communication for automated driving . This includes , for example , intelligent camera systems , which enable the direct exchange of data between the cars . These systems have crucial physical disadvantages , however . They can neither look around corners , nor over hills , nor through obstacles . This is why they restrict the functioning of self-driving cars . This simple form of automation is also unsuitable at higher speeds .” By contrast , 5G networks offer a huge potential improvement . Direct and ultra-low-latency broadband communication means that connected autonomous vehicles will have a much more comprehensive ( and in many cases , faster ) connection to their surrounding environment .
DRIVING INNOVATION
Regardless of the pace of AV arrival and 5G adoption , the writing is undeniably on the wall . The automotive industry is on track for a once-in-a-lifetime evolutionary leap , and companies need to adapt to higher levels of
NOVEMBER 2020