Keysight is committed to helping developers understand, integrate and deploy new technologies that enable advanced safety features, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) closed loop systems, which the automotive industry uses to emulate the vehicle systems that surround and connect to any newly developed components. ​​Keysight’s C-V2X ADE solution on the UXM 5G Wireless Test platform supports a range of test types that will support future releases of 5G new radio (NR) C-V2X, to ensure investment protection including:

• Transmitter Testing: Power, error-vector magnitude (EVM), frequency accuracy, in-band emissions, adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR).
• Receiver Testing: Sensitivity, maximum input level, adjacent-channel selectivity.
• Protocol Testing: Ensure correct PC5 link protocol, V2X message types and content are sent and received. Comprehensive coverage of C-V2X and LTE protocol test cases for GCF and PTCRB device certification testing.
• Application Layer Testing: Incorporate application-level testing that integrates C-V2X scenarios with HIL systems.

Keysight’s C-V2X ADE solution with the UXM 5G Wireless Test platform provides an environment emulator for in-lab testing versus realistic roadway scenarios, from mundane to one-in-a-million. ​Using total scene generation, it exercises advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) software using time-synchronized inputs to the actual sensors, enabling customers to:

• Validate the system performance earlier in the development cycle and enhance validation with synchronous testing of communication-based systems with application-level testing that integrates C-V2X scenarios with HIL systems.
• Leverage the flexibility of the platform to add relevant sensor types and expand as sensor systems and test requirements evolve.
• Reduce integration costs by leveraging an existing test environment and workflow, protecting investments in HIL systems and 3D modelers via an open ADE architecture.
• Verify performance relative to the relevant intelligent transportation system (ITS) stack, ensuring accurate communication to and from the vehicle, covering cases for all major regions: China, Europe, and the United States.
• Use 24/7 regression testing to ensure the quality of future updates as well as consistent testing of features and updates that are released post- start of production.

Through their partnership with the University of Michigan’s Mcity, a test bed for connected and autonomous vehicles, Honda and Verizon are teaming up to research how new connected safety technology using 5G and mobile edge computing (MEC) could ensure fast, reliable communication between road infrastructure, vehicles and pedestrians sharing the road, thus reducing collisions and saving lives.

Super-fast, reliable and low-latency data transmission at the edge of the network is essential for connected vehicle safety. Verizon’s 5G and MEC platforms bring the power of the cloud closer to the vehicle,  lowering latency, offering massive bandwidth, and improving communications and connectivity between drivers, other cars, traffic lights, pedestrians and emergency vehicles to improve threat detection and avoid accidents when seconds matter most.

Since 2017, Honda has been developing a technology to realize a collision-free society called SAFE SWARM. Using Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) communication, Honda SAFE SWARM enables vehicles to communicate with other road users and share key information such as location, speed, and vehicle sensor data. One limitation of this approach is the need to outfit each vehicle with onboard artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The use of 5G helps move the AI capabilities from the vehicle to the MEC, reducing the need for AI onboard each vehicle.

Using Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband, MEC and V2X software platforms, Honda and Verizon explored three safety scenarios:

• Pedestrian Scenario: A pedestrian is crossing a street at an intersection. An approaching driver cannot see the pedestrian due to a building obstructing the view. Smart cameras mounted in the intersection relay information to MEC using the 5G network. Verizon’s MEC and V2X software platforms detect the pedestrian and vehicle and determine the precise location of road users assisted by Verizon’s Hyper Precise Location services. A visual warning message is then sent alerting the driver of the potential danger.
• Emergency Vehicle Warning Scenario: A driver cannot see an approaching emergency vehicle and cannot hear its siren due to the high volume of in-vehicle audio. Verizon’s MEC and V2X software receive a safety message from the emergency vehicle and send a warning message to nearby vehicles. The driver receives a visual warning.
•  Red Light Runner Scenario: A vehicle fails to stop at a red light. Using data from the smart cameras, MEC and V2X software detect the vehicle and send a red-light-runner visual warning message to other vehicles approaching the intersection.

Each research scenario demonstrates the potential of 5G and MEC to communicate urgent safety messages between vehicles and infrastructure, reducing the need for complex computing onboard each connected vehicle. In the future, this connected vehicle technology could help ensure that autonomous vehicles will be able to communicate seamlessly.

The pilot project will be used to validate and evaluate the software development kit (SDK) configuration of the Eye-Net solution for possible integration into the vehicle manufacturer’s smart city project.

This is Eye-Net Mobile’s third pilot project in Japan, following the Company’s announcements last August about two pilot projects with leading global Japanese technology and electronics companies. Eye-Net Mobile’s market penetration strategy advocates concentrating on one geographic region in order to achieve a critical mass of Eye-Net Protect users in a defined area that could potentially increase the chances of preventing road accidents and saving lives.

As an official partner of NXP, support for AutoCrypt V2X will be streamlined across NXP’s V2X-related offerings, including the SAF5X00 modem chipsets and the SXF1800 Secure Element IC for V2X Communication, as well as the i.MX 8 Series Application Processor. By integrating AUTOCRYPT’s IEEE 1609.2-compliant V2X security solution onto NXP’s platform, secure exchange of V2X messages as well as performance optimization can be achieved more effectively.

AUTOCRYPT’s offerings across V2X, V2D, and V2G security are a natural match for NXP’s expansive automotive portfolio, paving the way for further joint solution development as global interoperability continues to become a crucial factor for enabling safe transportation and mobility.

A consortium led by Ford is developing an innovative predictive road safety tool which, using data from connected vehicles and intelligent roadside sensors, could help to make travel in towns and cities safer and easier.

Each year more than 1.3 million people are killed on roads around the world – around 3,700 every day – with road injuries the eighth leading cause of death globally . On top of the human impact, accidents also have significant financial consequences. The U.K. Department for Transport puts the annual economic cost of road incidents at more than £35 billion.

The Data-Driven Road Safety Tool will analyse information from connected vehicles, smart roadside sensors and local-authority data to predict the likely locations and possible root causes of potential road safety hotspots. The insights will enable cities to take pre-emptive action to address roads and junctions that pose the highest risks to road users.

Ford Mobility is working alongside partners including Oxfordshire County Council, AI sensor specialists Vivacity Labs, and leading academics from Loughborough University’s Transport Safety Research Centre, with support from Transport for London. The aim is to develop the tool into a solution that could benefit cities and road users around the world. The initiative has now received financial backing from the Innovate UK, the government-backed innovation fund.

Data-driven road safety

Ford has conducted extensive research into the opportunity for connected vehicles and predictive analytics to help improve road safety, Now, up to 700 passenger and commercial vehicles will be voluntarily connected across Oxfordshire and London as part of the 18-month project starting this summer.

Detailed telematics data from the fleet of vehicles – such as brake or accelerator pedal usage and steering wheel angle – will be analysed alongside information from up to 25 additional smart sensors to be provided in Oxfordshire by Vivacity Labs a specialist in traffic capture and classification, bringing the total number in use up to 100.

Vivacity’s roadside sensors employ machine learning algorithms to detect near-miss incidents and are able to analyse movement patterns of vulnerable road-users such as cyclists and pedestrians, as well as non-connected vehicles. All data shared by the sensors is anonymised with video feeds discarded at source, enabling safer roads without intruding on privacy.

Connected Vehicle Trials

The project follows two successful trials in London in which analysts and data scientists from Ford Mobility sampled more than 1 million miles of driving by connected vehicles to identify, analyse and provide detailed safety mitigation guidance to local authorities on various road safety hotspots in Greater London.

Recommendations for improvements included the introduction of red-light cameras to deter signal jumping, cutting back vegetation to ensure road signage was clearly visible, double-height signage and signals, resurfacing carriageways and raising service covers.

Ford Mobility is also working with authorities in Cologne, Germany, and Valencia, Spain, to identify further ways in which analysis of information connected vehicles and infrastructure can benefit urban mobility.

The foundation of the global supply chain is rapidly aging out. Outdated roads, energy grids, and telecommunications systems are incapable of supporting the development and adoption of the next-generation V2G and C-V2X infrastructure required to successfully compete on tomorrow’s global stage. In order to accelerate the update of infrastructure to match the speed of the data which must run across it, one must revolutionize how one thinks, organizes, and builds it, from start to finish.

The explosion of cloud networks at the edge is fuelling a multitude of challenges increasingly exacerbated by a sprawling network of AI, IoT sensors, 4G/ LTE, and 5G cloudlets embedded across an inefficient patchwork of modern infrastructure. From shipping containers to carriers, Accedian and New Context are poised to help engineer the next generation of V2G and C-V2X solutions. Overcoming previous limiting factors such as legacy commercial cloud security models and disaggregated telecom providers, the partnership offers cross-carrier, cross-jurisdiction, and cross-border edge security solutions and transactional forensic attestation at scale.

Powered by the next-generation interactive grid, tomorrow’s supply chain will perform at the edge, with remote applications, such as Bechtel and General Motors who are already spearheading the way. Smart freight and smart sensors will interact with their users in unprecedented ways and will increasingly require a completely revolutionized infrastructure design to power everything from mass transportation synchronicity to micro-services tailored to specific freight, ports, toll systems, and warehouses.

Accedian will provide their foundational technology, Skylight, which delivers the ability to detect real-time suspicious, malicious, and anomalous behaviors and provides a single source of truth for V2G and C-V2X infrastructure, as well as supply chain assurance, regulatory compliance, insurance, and payment systems, operating at the edge. New Context will harness its expertise at engineering visionary data architecture solutions in the utility, robotic, and industrial sectors to modernize the next generation of infrastructure landscape with an ever-changing rulebook for data, which will continue to vary by nation, locality, or state.

The strategic partnership between Accedian and New Context is a critical first step to fulfilling the sprawling demands of modernizing V2G and C-V2X infrastructure and unlocking the opportunities the new economy requires.

Savari and MobiledgeX can address the V2X and V2G market needs in the European Union (EU) in 2020. Savari platforms powered by the Qualcomm® 9150 C-V2X chipset have recently achieved RED certification. Savari is proud to have reached this significant milestone to advance the EU authority C-V2X objectives while accelerating the market for automotive OEMs and their telecom operator partners. The partnership between Savari and MobiledgeX will enable Savari’s emergency response, first responders, and public sector fleet manager customers to bring lifesaving solutions to the market faster. This partnership will also allow Savari to deploy aggregation logic on the edge and generate crucial data for its deep learning models in the public cloud, and in turn, bring that intelligence back to its edge applications.

Public cloud services present a series of governance, risk, and compliance challenges to governments seeking greater assurance in QoS orchestration at the edge for purposes such as automotive OEMs advancing the deployment of semi-autonomous and autonomous fleets.

The coalition, led by Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, consists of the Georgia Department of Transportation plus several agencies involved in public transit, City and County leaders from around the state, transportation technology companies, transportation consultants and professional organizations representing the engineering and transportation industries.

In addition to preserving the entire bandwidth for vehicle and pedestrian safety, the comments to the FCC called for allocation of spectrum for cellular vehicle to everything (C-V2X) and dedicated short range communications (DSRC) and for protections from potential interferences from other radios.

The filing pointed out that within the state of Georgia more than 2,600 traffic signals are part of an ongoing deployment of connected vehicle technology affected by the NPRM and that the FCC has granted an experimental license to operate C-V2X in the City of Alpharetta, GA.

A copy of the coalition’s filing and list of signers can be found here

C-V2X is a global solution for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and V2X communication designed to enhance road safety and facilitate smart transportation systems, including support of automated driving. Developed by the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) organization, C-V2X establishes the foundation to support safety use-cases with a path for integration into next generation 5G technologies, while tapping into the broader 3GPP ecosystem to drive wider adoption. With its evolution to 5G New Radio, C-V2X offers rich and differentiated experiences consumers continue to demand as we usher in the world of 5G and autonomy.

A new European Standard (EN) defining the use of C-V2X as an access layer technology for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) devices was recently approved through the European Telecommunication Standardization Institute (ETSI). In addition, all the ETSI standards and specifications that define other ITS protocols above the access layer have been updated to support utilization of C-V2X as the underlying access layer. These standards and specifications have been included in the ETSI ITS Release 1 specification set and provide the basis for development of interoperable C-V2X ITS implementations and devices from multiple vendors.

The following products, all of which feature the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset solution, have achieved RED certification:

• Commsignia On-Board Unit (OBU)
•  Commsignia Roadside Unit (RSU)
• Ficosa OBU
• Kapsch RSU
•  Savari MobiWAVE 2000 OBU
• Savari StreetWAVE SW2000 RSU
• WNC module

C-V2X continues to gain global momentum.  Field tests are transitioning to early deployments in China. In the United States, recent field tests have shown significant range, reliability, and performance advantage of C-V2X direct communications, in addition to the ability for C-V2X to work well in congested environments. In Europe, the recent plugtests organized by ETSI and 5GAA demonstrated multi-vendor interoperability, while multiple corridor projects are being planned to test the technology on the road, starting from 5G-CARMEN and Concorda projects.

The deployment and testing began after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an experimental license for infrastructure and mobile C-V2X deployments within a five-mile radius of the iATL, located in Alpharetta, GA north of Atlanta.

Testing and deployment will occur throughout an approximately 78.5-square-mile area anchored by the iATL in the City of Alpharetta, GA. The experimental license “will allow testing of V2I applications for potential benefits, and systematic improvements of the technology.”

Within the area covered by the license, there are approximately 130 traffic signals and 11 school zones, all of which can provide safety messages to connected and autonomous vehicles through C-V2X. Additional use cases include developing and testing safety applications involving vulnerable road users, temporary work zones, school and transit bus stop safety and proximity alerts to emergency vehicles on a call.

The iATL is the world’s first private-sector facility for developing connected vehicle applications for both vehicles and traffic control devices such as traffic signals. The primary function of the iATL is to serve as an engineering technical facility for testing connected vehicle application functionality and performance between the transportation infrastructure and motor vehicles, the infrastructure and vulnerable road users, motor vehicles and vulnerable road users and other configurations. The iATL also serves as a training center for transportation professionals and first responders using connected vehicle technology. The iATL is sponsored by Applied Information.

This event enabled vendors to run test sessions to assess the level of interoperability of their implementation and validate the understanding of the ETSI TC ITS and 3GPP standards.

This week-long face to face Plugtests at Dekra, Malaga, provided an opportunity to test C-V2X devices. Field interoperability testing included road hazard signalling, road works warning, longitudinal collision risk warning and intersection collision risk warning.

The ETSI 5GAA joint workshop which was organized in parallel, addressed C-V2X interoperability and deployment and was attended by 65 people. Leading speakers from the European Commission, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Global Certification Forum presented the latest updates on ITS deployments and certifications.

Participants included:

• Eight On-Board Units: Bosch, Commsignia, Ficosa, Huawei, LGE, Neusoft, Qualcomm, Savari
• Four PKI Providers: Crypta Labs, Gemalto (Thales), Microsec, Penta Security
• Five Test Equipment Vendors: Anritsu, Keysight, Rhode & Schwarz, Spirent, Software Radio Systems

Performance validation of C-V2X is crucial for C-V2X certification and commercialization. 3GPP validation of Keysight’s conformance test case enables the C-V2X connected ecosystem to achieve performance compliance with the specifications of the 3GPP standards, both for Release 14 and 5G new radio (NR) Release 16. The test case validation, which took place in Austin, Texas, on October 23^rd, was achieved using Keysight’s 5G radio frequency (RF) and radio resource management (RRM) DVT & Conformance Toolset and the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset platform, which is designed to deliver precise positioning, efficient processing and security capabilities.

Keysight supports short-range wireless technologies, such as C-V2X. C-V2X is expected to be instrumental in transforming in-vehicle experiences and delivering safer road conditions for passengers, drivers and pedestrians. Keysight 5G RF/RRM DVT & Conformance Toolset offers C-V2X end-to-end signaling test capabilities that include Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal emulation for validating User-to-UTRAN (Uu) and PC5 links.

Keysight’s 5G RF/RRM DVT & Conformance Toolset, part of Keysight’s suite of 5G network emulation solutions, cost-effectively addresses a wide range of test needs on a single platform using common software. Early access to a wide range of 5G NR protocol and RF test cases for both non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) mode in FR1 and FR2 allows market makers to quickly and cost-effectively address global test requirements of 5G multi-mode devices in different form factors. Keysight 5G Conformance Toolsets, used by test labs including Bureau Veritas, Tech Mahindra and PCTEST, offer a leading number of test cases validated by both by the Global Certification Forum (GCF) and PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB), which are key certification bodies for wireless technologies.

Developed by SAIC Motor, the heavy smart trucks are powered by advanced technologies, including 5G, V2X and AI, to achieve 5G L4-level intelligent driving at the port. Each truck has been equipped with “senses” to detect the external environment and cope with unexpected situations such as crosswinds, obstacles in the road or pedestrian traffic. After arriving at the destination, the vehicles can also dock in target locations.

Quectel C-V2X modules AG15 were integrated in the trucks to help identify and communicate with roadside units such as gates and traffic lights, greatly improving driving safety and efficiency.

The introduction of 5G provides port owners with an unprecedented opportunity to embrace automation to reduce costs by 25-55% and raise productivity by up to 10-35%, according to the same report.

Modules, such as the Quectel C-V2X portfolio, offer even more significant cost-effectiveness and flexibility than conventional forms of investment in automation as they can be custom-installed to meet automakers’ or port authorities’ requirements.

Additionally, Quectel’s AG520R module integrating LTE+C-V2X technologies has supported over 30 automotive customers in product design. The 5G+C-V2X module AG550Q is currently under development and compatible with AG520R in both HW/SW, ensuring a smoother migration from LTE to 5G, which means that the future of automation is now just a module away.

During a live demo event in Turin, the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) showcased ready to deploy use cases in the streets of the city and a sneak preview of what the future has in store on the renowned Lingotto rooftop test track.

Prominent members and partners of the 5GAA including Audi, Continental, Ericsson, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Harman Samsung, Marelli, Pirelli, Qualcomm, TIM and Vodafone demonstrated the current state of C-V2X and the road to future, Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I), and Vehicle-to-Network (V2N) applications based on 4G LTE and 5G.

Using both direct short-range communications and mobile networks, the open-road demonstrations showcased the extensive capabilities of today’s C-V2X technology, ready for deployment. To name a few:

• Protecting vulnerable road users, for instance, by alerting drivers about a pedestrian at a crossing using LTE-connected infrastructure.
• Smoothing traffic by allowing public authorities and road operators to provide real-time warnings to drivers in urban environments concerning roadworks or speed limits, via the network.
• Preventing incidents at dangerous intersections or in the event of unexpected braking, thanks to C-V2X direct-short range communications between vehicles.

The track demonstrations at Lingotto underlined the enhanced safety benefits that can be expected thanks to the versatility of 5G and the wide range of services it enables. To name a few:

• Vehicles will geo-tag dangerous areas for the following cars or provide ‘see-through’ functions to avoid dangerous overtaking.
• Pedestrians will be detected directly via their smartphones and surrounding vehicles will be warned.
• In case of accidents, emergency services will be able to visualize the situation live using on-board cameras of surrounding vehicles, improving response times and providing emergency responders situational awareness prior to arriving at the crash scene.

Furthermore, Intel showcased an “In Vehicle Entertainment” demo at the Museum, in collaboration with Marelli, TerraNet and Equinix, showing how Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) can support immersive high-definition (HD) entertainment for all occupants of a moving vehicle, including video streaming, gaming, virtual reality (VR), office work, online education, advertisement.

A short summary on each of the 5GAA C-V2X use cases, demonstrated today in Turin

Demo 1 “Vulnerable Road Users”: open road demos on safety

In this trial – which is part of Torino Smart Roads Initiative patronized by the Municipality of Turin – TIM, Links Foundation and Luxoft showed how the communication between the various actors moving along the roads can help in detecting potentially dangerous situations. The goal of the demos was to demonstrate how the 5G mobile network facilitates the protection of Vulnerable Road Users: pedestrians (“Presence of a pedestrian on a crosswalk”) and cyclists (“Presence of a connected bike on the road”). In the case of a pedestrian approaching a crosswalk, a Roadside Unit connected to the mobile network, equipped with a camera able to detect the event, sent a warning message to the nearby connected vehicles (I2V communication). In the case of a connected bike and a connected vehicle that are approaching each other, the two vehicles received a warning message about their presence when a risk of collision is detected.

Demo 2 “Urban Georeferenced Alerting” in open roads

TIM, FCA, Links Foundation, City of Turin with 5T, and Politecnico di Torino showed how the Local Traffic Authority in Turin intends to notify drivers in real time of possible dangers and special situations on the road (traffic jam, road works warning, dynamic speed limit, etc.). A standard geo-referenced warning message was dispatched to a TIM AMQP broker” at the edge of the 5G mobile network and only the involved vehicles received the geo-localized message from the AMQP Broker using the TIM 5G Network. The warning was read and displayed in an FCA vehicle through the on-board HMI and can for instance notify the driver of upcoming speed reduction. The aim of the trial was to demonstrate how the TIM 5G Network is suitable for realizing smart roads services for connected cars. The solution is compliant with the standards so it can be applied in other locations covered with mobile networks.

Demo 3 Intersection Movement Assist (IMA), Forward collision Warning (FCW)

FCA and Harman Samsung showcased two Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) demos, by integrating C-V2X direct-short range communication into Maserati Levante and Quattroporte. The vehicles, through a direct radio link (network-less radio link), anonymously communicated basic information such as their position and related direction.

The Forward Collision Warning (FCW), detected possible frontal collision and warned the driver accordingly. The Intersection Movement Assist (IMA), assisted the driver at the cross junctions to avoid a possible lateral collision with an oncoming vehicle.

Demo 4 Emergency Electronic Brake Light (EEBL), Stationary Vehicle Warning (SVW)

FCA, Continental, and Qualcomm demonstrated fast and reliable information exchange between vehicles in emergency situations. The two demos are based on C-V2X direct-short range technology, enabling Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication between two Jeep Renegade. There were two portions to this demo:

“Stationary Vehicle Warning” (SVW): when the hazard lights are activated, the application broadcasted a message to all nearby vehicles so that approaching vehicles could be informed even if the hazard was not visible.

“Emergency Electronic Brake Light warning” (EEBL): in the event of a sudden braking, the application broadcasted a message to following vehicles, such that approaching vehicles were notified of the potentially dangerous situation.

Demo 5 See-through

Vodafone, FCA, Vodafone Automotive, Marelli and Altran revealed the ‘See Through’ that uses C-V2X long-range cellular network communication to exchange streamed video in real time between vehicles, extending the driver’s visual range under obstructed visibility scenarios and to prevent accidents, especially those that may occur in an overtaking phase. The two involved Jeep Renegades vehicles were equipped with a connectivity solution (Marelli) and high frame-rate cameras (Marelli Motorsport) to detect the road lanes.

A real time tracking system and a space mapping algorithm of the vehicles, specifically developed by Vodafone Automotive, allowed Vodafone’s Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) to dynamically manage and route the video flows on the basis of the vehicles’ relative positions and to ensure minimal end-to-end latency in the interest of drivers’ safety. Vodafone 5G ultra-low latency and high reliability were paramount to ensure the flow and synchrony of the real-time video exchange between vehicles, also under high traffic and cell saturation conditions.

Demo 6 World-first 5G-enhanced ADAS services

Audi, Ericsson, Italdesign, KTH, Pirelli, Qualcomm, TIM and Tobii showed how smart cars, commercial 5G smartphones and 5G networks jointly improve comfort, safety and efficiency. This unique collaboration combined the power of eye-tracking glasses, intelligent tires, in-vehicle augmented reality and 5G phones to work together over a live 5G network. With its high capacity and low latency, cellular 5G connectivity is ready to enable instantaneous cooperation between vehicles, the IoT ecosystem and more advanced driver assistance services. The live demonstrations at the Turin Lingotto test track were based on TIM’s commercial 5G network delivered in Turin in partnership with Ericsson. Audi cars, equipped with Pirelli Cyber Tyre, and embedded 5G modems provided by Qualcomm and available 5G smartphones were utilized to enhance pedestrian’s safety.

Ettifos’ SDR-based C-V2X solution can flexibly process applications not only based on C-V2X standards (3GPP Release 14, 15), but is also able to work through WAVE (802.11p) and 802.11bd, the next-generation standard for WAVE, in addition to the new 5G NR V2X standard (3GPP Release 16), set to be completed in 2020. While existing C-V2X communication chipsets make it difficult for terminal or equipment manufactures to change functions once the chipset is designed and produced, Ettifos’ SDR V2X solution circumvents that issue by implementing many V2X functions as software in order to flexibly match the needs of its users.

While V2X technology has long been put on the forefront of innovative technology, major government players such as the EU and the United States Department of Transportation have recently pulled legislation that would have potentially set up a singular standard for the industry to follow. As both WAVE and C-V2X have been considered and heavily debated as to their viability and feasibility, governments across the globe have yet to decide upon a single standard for V2X communication, therefore pushing several key industry leaders such as Toyota and Qualcomm and consortiums such as the 5GAA to lobby governments to decide upon a single standard.

As such, the fact that there now exists a SDR solution capable of handling several different forms of communication standards in one platform is welcoming news to V2X research institutions and equipment manufacturers globally, specifically because they will be able to decrease their reliance on a singular semiconductor company and work with a solution capable of collectively testing a variety of different communication standards in a single environment.

NI is collaborating with S.E.A., an NI Alliance Partner, to help maximize the full potential of connected and intelligent mobility by providing a software-defined approach to help automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers validate the safety and efficiency of the cars. As the 3GPP standards evolve, including 5G NR capability with 3GPP Release 16 scheduled for 2020, a software-defined platform provides OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers the flexibility to adapt to the latest technology with minimum hardware and software changes.

Using cellular technology for physical layer communication, C-V2X benefits from considerable investments in cellular communication, including 5G, and a vast ecosystem of technology. For this technology to work, contributors will need to standardize on communication, understand how systems from multiple vendors interact and characterize behavior in real-world scenarios.  Eventually, 5G is expected to provide increased throughput and lower latency for autonomous vehicle communications, downloading high-definition maps, and advanced pedestrian interactions. With most projects still in the early stages of evaluation and standards still materializing, automotive OEMs, automotive suppliers and academic researchers are investing in the tools that will adapt as C-V2X technology evolves. 

The new C-V2X solution combines software from NI Alliance Partner, S.E.A. GmbH, with NI software-defined radio (SDR) hardware to send real signals to RF and GNSS channels on C-V2X controllers and telematics control units. By articulating the C-V2X and GNSS signals to the C-V2X controller, the new C-V2X solution can simulate real signals from an emergency brake warning or four-way stop and help engineers characterize device performance in the lab. The new C-V2X solution includes pre-compiled drive scenarios like left turn assist, emergency brake warning and traffic jam warning to accelerate time to first measurement. 

For communication module parts, the company will introduce V2X modules, including “C-V2X” (Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything) which is attracting attention as the next-generation automotive part, as well as Bluetooth / Wi-Fi modules, cellular modules, and low-power Bluetooth solutions.

LG Innotek’s communication modules are compatible with various standards including communication standards, providing excellent compatibility. They are expected to be key components that will enhance the safety of connected cars and autonomous vehicles in the future due to their excellent durability and reliability.

V2X modules are state-of-the-art products that exchange information between vehicles and objects. In this exhibition, C-V2X module, which can use mobile communication technology, and DSRC-V2X module, which is based on dedicated short range communication (DSRC), will be introduced.

The Bluetooth / Wi-Fi modules are components that implement short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in a vehicle. The cellular modules are products that enable services such as emergency rescue, theft prevention, voice call, data communication, and vehicle position check using a mobile communication network.

There is also a space to experience BLE solutions for connectivity between vehicles and smartphones. This technology detects driver’s position automatically and allows him to open and close the vehicle’s door or starting-up.

Velodyne Lidar provides high-resolution, long-range lidar for ADAS and autonomous applications. V2V and V2X communication of lidar and fused data is a key component for dynamic updating of traffic and infrastructure information to enable envisioned Smart City applications. Rajant will also be previewing their crypto solution, code-named Wolverine, designed for the military and adapted for commercial applications, along with their wireless V2X technology for last-mile autonomous applications like test tracks.

The Wolverine solution is a fully programmable, multi-chip design, built with programmable flexibility, which provides the ability to add new algorithms in the future and is designed to meet stringent NSA certification requirements. Wolverine contains advanced encryption and authentication algorithms using a fail-safe design to provide design flexibility for multiple IoT applications.

Test tracks, which are used for new vehicle testing, provide many challenges for traditional communication technologies with their winding roads covering vast areas with a limited line of sight. Vehicle monitoring requires significant bi-directional throughput, which neither LTE nor Wi-Fi can provide. Enter Rajant’s V2X based Kinetic Mesh technology that is used by AB Dynamics, a global leader in automotive test systems and ASI, a global leader in vendor-independent vehicle automation systems.

Rajant capabilities enable the creation of secure mesh networks while providing high throughput data transfer between multiple vehicles. This offers greatly improved reliability over standard WLAN technology, making it ideal for vehicle testing. AB Dynamics has adopted this technology for Euro NCAP Autonomous Emergency Braking testing and driverless vehicle testing. It provides low latency data transfer between multiple vehicles or to their Ground Traffic Control system, which is a solution for future vehicle testing that monitors, commands, and coordinates proving ground testing.

In Asia, Europe and the US, ideas around connected and autonomous mobility are expanding to include new industries and technologies. How and what people drive will change radically over the next decade. Collaboration will be key, while governments should remain technology-neutral in their policies on connected vehicles.

The push for C-V2X will not only help save lives, but also, improve the quality of life in smart cities. Each year about 1.35 million people die worldwide in traffic accidents, the majority caused by human error, according to the World Health Organization. As V2X technology evolves that number should decline. The US Department of Transportation estimates that V2X could save more than 1,000 people a year in the US and reduce non-fatal injuries by 2.3 million.

Meanwhile, traffic congestion accounts for 15 billion litres (4 billion gallons) of wasted fuel in the US every year. Cleaner vehicles and smarter route choices will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 14% of which come from global transportation, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Rohde & Schwarz in collaboration with Vector, Savari and Quectel successfully presented an application layer test solution for 3GPP C-V2X Release 14, specifically aimed at the growing Chinese market. This integrated test platform was presented at the Mobile World Congress in Shanghai 2019 and is a complete solution for simulation development and testing of all V2X-based applications.

The presented C-V2X test solution consists of a device under test C-V2X module AG15 provided by Quectel, running Savari’s MobiWAVE V2X Software Stack and receiving the ITS messages provided by the R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester and the GPS signal by R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator. The R&S CMW500 uses a C-V2X software package needed to simulate the Physical- and MAC-layer in order to transmit and receive data over the PC5 radio interface. Vector’s software environment for V2X application testing, CANoe .Car2x, is used to create and simulate detailed traffic situations for the verification of C-V2X connectivity. Savari’s C-V2X middleware helps demonstrate the outstanding versatility and performance of the R&S CMW500, while presenting a variety of applications ideal for 3GPP LTE-V2X PC5 interoperability testing. It offers the full support of the necessary standards and specifications required for proper functioning in China’s networks, such as the GB/T 31024 standard for the next generation of cooperative intelligent transport systems.

This is the only test solution available that covers all layers, from the physical layer and the RF measurements, the protocol layer and the protocol conformance tests, up to the application layer with the fully integrated ITS stack.

This setup presents an end-to-end solution for testing all related functionalities of C-V2X. This includes both device-to device communication – between a vehicle and another vehicle (V2V), a vehicle and a pedestrian (V2P), a vehicle and the surrounding road infrastructure (V2I), and device-to-network (V2N) type of communication.