Auto manufacturer Stellantis has participated in the 5G Automotive Association’s (5GAA) live trial of 5G cellular connected vehicle communication and multi-access edge computing (MEC) technology in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Test equipment was installed on a Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid which enabled it to alert nearby infrastructure to its position; the roadside infrastructure could then in turn send alerts to pedestrians and other vehicles, as well as receive emergency notifications from the cellular network.
The 5GAA connected car concept used fixed, on-site cameras and sensors to collect detailed data adding to what a vehicle can “see” using its onboard systems. With a high-speed 5G cellular data connection and MEC, the system is thus able to make quick decisions at the location where data is collected, such as an intersection, to communicate safety risks for pedestrians and approaching vehicles.
“Making roads safer for drivers and pedestrians is the ultimate goal of developing these next generation technologies,” said Ned Curic, Stellantis CTO. “The Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is the perfect vehicle for these live tests, equipped with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies and driver safety alert. With 5GAA, we are working with industry leaders across the globe to help pave the way for autonomous technology to benefit our products and, ultimately, our customers.”
Stellantis notes that it is active in several initiatives globally, including a similar test program in Turin, Italy, to evaluate 5G cellular technology and management of large volumes of data, including the sizing and configuration of computing capabilities inside the vehicle.
Other 5GAA partners that participated in the Virginia program included Intel, Verizon, American Tower, CapGemini, Telus, Harman, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the Virginia Department of Transportation.