Verizon and Nissan have successfully completed a proof-of-concept demonstrating the powerful combination of C-V2X (Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything) and edge computing over 5G.
Data collected from onboard vehicle sensors and roadside infrastructure was processed at the edge of Verizon’s network for the demonstration. Processed data was then sent back to vehicles for urgent driver notifications in near real-time.
“Communication between vehicles and the environment around them, or C-V2X, will be one of the most important transportation innovations of the connected and autonomous future of driving,” said TJ Fox, SVP of Industrial IoT and Automotive at Verizon Business.
“This proof of concept shows that edge computing with Verizon’s cellular network can help take the resource-intensive compute burden off vehicles and public infrastructure – housing their software platforms and crunching their sensor data for them – and can communicate data outward to prompt potentially lifesaving safety alerts or autonomous driving features in the car, all essentially in real time.”
Here’s a couple of illustrated examples of use cases:
5G networks are enabling new use cases for ever more critical applications thanks to their high-speed, low-latency nature. Robust testing is still required to ensure the potentially life-saving innovations don’t end up posing a danger.
As part of its Automated Driving Systems Grant Program, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) will test Verizon and Nissan’s solution in controlled public environments for helping drivers in scenarios where they may find it difficult to see vulnerable pedestrians or oncoming traffic emerging from behind visual obstructions.
If successful, the project could move to live development.
“CCTA is excited to be collaborating with Verizon and Nissan to test technology that addresses real transportation needs – delivering mobility choices to transportation-challenged and underserved communities – while preparing our county for the future of mobility,” said Timothy Haile, Executive Director for the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
“Taking a proactive approach to safety is a priority for CCTA, and the technology we’re testing together will contribute toward making connected and automated vehicles a safe option for future travel.”
(Photo by kimi lee on Unsplash)
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