A multidisciplinary project led by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) has begun developing a network that combines artificial intelligence and 6G technology to enable secure interconnected mobility.
The European project “AI-enhanced fiber wireless optical 6G networks supporting connected mobility” (6G-EWOC) is one of 27 projects selected in the second call for Horizon’s 6G Smart Networks and Services (6GSNS) program. It’s one. Europe.
The project aims to develop the necessary technology and leverage AI to design a fiber-optic 6G network that can support connected mobility systems in high-traffic and congested areas.
Professor José Antonio Lázaro, project leader and researcher at UPC’s Center for Advanced Broadband Communications (CCABA), said in a statement: they are evolving rapidly. But importantly, we can go a step further and make future vehicles capable of driving themselves and even better than humans. ”
To achieve this, the researchers said, the vehicle needs to be able to not only detect objects such as other vehicles and people around it, but also have the ability to “know” their distance and speed from the vehicle. which direction are they traveling in?
“Using all this data, vehicle intelligence determines the safest routes for people both inside and outside the vehicle, detects blind spots, and eliminates common causes of motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents. “It allows us to recognize certain difficult-to-recognize situations, such as vehicles or objects that obstruct the driver’s view of pedestrians trying to cross,” Antonio Lazaro said.
According to the researchers, the ideal solution would be for autonomous and human-driven vehicles to have real-time maps containing detailed 3D information about roads, traffic jams, and all vehicles, people, animals, and objects in their path. It is to have. .
The researchers said that reaching this solution requires “connected” vehicles that can exchange large amounts of information generated by sensors, both between vehicles and with computing centers. The computing center will be responsible for integrating everything detected at each moment through radar and sensors. in real time via LiDAR sensors or cameras on various vehicles.
By combining AI and 6G, the 6G-EWOC project aims to develop the networks and technologies needed to manage the amount of data generated by this connected mobility system.
According to the researchers, these technologies range from laser-based sensors (such as LiDAR, which can create 3D models of everything around you) to wireless optical communication between vehicles and with elements such as street lights and traffic lights, which act as additional 6G. It is said that it extends to antenna.
The project will also rely on high-capacity optical fiber that can transfer large amounts of data to the nearest distributed computing center, and AI technology used to organize and send all data traffic to the distributed computing center.
Other AI tools combine data from vehicles in each area to build part of a 3D map and integrate it with maps generated by distributed computing elements in other areas.
Researchers said the developed network will allow detailed, complete and up-to-date maps to be sent to drivers and vehicles in real time, allowing them to drive as safely as possible.
The multidisciplinary project involves 11 other European partners, including companies and technology centres, and has received more than €5 million in funding from the EU and the Swiss government.
Learn more about the 6G-EWOC project here.
