RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) Proving Ground AstaZero has unveiled the first 6G, Edge-computing facility to “test the limits of traffic and vehicle communications”, the company says.
The new AstraZero facility enables the testing of integrated, collaborative vehicle communication systems combining simulations and real-world scenarios. The company states that this new system enables 99.999% connected vehicle system communication reliability.
Edge computing places processing and data storage closer to the devices generating data. For self-driving cars, this enables real-time responses without relying on distant data centers. Local processing improves bandwidth, latency, energy efficiency, privacy and reliability.
Achieving 99.999% reliability requires not only tests on the individual sensor but also on integrated and collaborative systems, a task which has been virtually impossible until now. RISE says that this new facility’s communication capability is “a critical step forward in the journey for autonomous vehicles, industrial automation and connected societies, as it allows virtual objects and situations to be tested in scenarios limited solely by the engineer’s imagination and vehicle technology”.
The new Edge-computing facility enables tests on the connected vehicle and smart city systems that will feature ever more prominently as transportation evolves. New cars for the most part already feature sensors that support drivers (such as emergency breaking, lane keeping, etc) and technology that enables them to receive information about, for example, road or traffic conditions. The next generation of critical communication scenarios such as V2X enables vehicles to share the information from its sensors, cameras and internal systems with other vehicles, nearby pedestrians, road infrastructure and connected city systems. The new AstaZero facility will support the testing and development of these systems.
The AstaZero test network, featuring Edge computing, will to help optimize traffic flows, reduce congestion, minimize emissions and transform urban mobility into a “smoother, more efficient experience for all”, the company said. It also added that it is the only open and neutral test location in Europe where transportation tests with this level of advanced technology have been made available to any brand, enabling unique and unbiased data testing for all.
“In the future, communication might not always originate from the sensors on the vehicle itself, but instead from sensors mounted on connected infrastructure or from the sensors of another vehicle. In these types of systems, three key factors are crucial: reliability, ultra-fast communication and intelligent decision-making. However, the bitter truth is that without a global, harmonious and integrated testing approach, there is no guarantee that vehicles and infrastructure will have the capabilities to enable the highest level of safety with complete confidence within this connected ecosystem,” said Peter Janevik, CEO, RISE AstaZero.