When and where will Audi deploy 5G and C-V2X?
Audi will soon ship the A7 L and A6 L to the Chinese market with a new wireless module that supports both 5G mobile communications and C-V2X technology, followed by many other models later on. Other markets are due to follow in 2023.
How do vehicles communicate via C-V2X?
C-V2X stands for “Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything” and refers to the technology that enables vehicles to communicate with their surrounding environment, including other road users as well as connected infrastructure such as traffic lights, traffic and construction signs, connected parking spaces and traffic guidance systems.
C-V2X communication is based on cellular technology and offers two complementary transmission modes.
C-V2X direct communication is a direct connection between a vehicle and its surrounding environment. Data is transmitted in the globally harmonized 5.9 GHz ITS frequency band and is independent of cellular networks.
In contrast, C-V2X network communication uses cellular networks to extend the transmission range for telematics, infotainment, etc. The Audi A7 L and A6 L models use both C-V2X transmission modes. For the first time in China, the module now also transmits and receives data over the 5G network.
What advantages does 5G offer over previous mobile communication standards?
The 5G standard was defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in late 2018. 5G, the fifth generation of mobile communications, an enhancement to the 4G/LTE cellular standards, is primarily designed for robust communications in mission-critical industrial applications. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has defined three application profiles for 5G:
Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications (uRLLC) Particularly time-critical applications, such as safety-related warnings and autonomous driving, require both high reliability and low latency with response times of a few milliseconds (by comparison, 4G: >20 ms).
Massive Machine Based Communication (mMTC) It ensures reliable connections between up to 1 million devices per square kilometer. This is important for secure communication between road users and infrastructure in urban areas, for example (4G: 100,000/km)2).
Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) Under ideal conditions, it delivers extremely high data rates of up to 20 Gbit/s download speeds and 10 Gbit/s upload speeds for data-intensive applications such as infotainment and streaming (4G: 1 Gbit/s download speed, 500 Mbit/s upload speed).
How will drivers benefit from 5G?
As the successor to 4G/LTE, 5G will simultaneously optimize three application areas:
Improving road safety: Thanks to uRLLC, 5G can be used to implement extremely time-critical applications, such as providing warnings in dangerous situations such as accidents or emergency braking.
Expanded ConnectivityCars and motorbikes, traffic lights and road signs, bicycles and smartphones: thanks to mMTC, 5G will enhance simultaneous connections between numerous devices and components and the cellular network, ensuring quality and availability.
Enhanced EntertainmentWhether it’s multi-channel audio when listening to music or streaming live video in 4K quality, 5G will be the foundation for immersive entertainment experiences in the car. Smooth video conferencing that allows you to work in the car while you’re riding will also benefit from 5G, as will augmented reality games or virtual tours of cities with VR headsets. Passengers will be fully immersed in a virtual world that reacts to the car’s movements. 5G’s eMBB capability will ensure the high data rates required for these bandwidth-intensive applications.
In what situations can 5G and C-V2X help?
Local danger information: Many services already use cellular networks for data communication. 5G will further improve Audi’s “Local Hazard Information” service. Thanks to its latency and bandwidth advantages, 5G will speed up communication between the vehicle and the cloud, allowing alerts to be sent earlier and more accurately. The service, which currently runs on 4G networks, allows Audi vehicles to warn each other about accidents, broken-down vehicles, traffic jams, icy roads or poor visibility. Since 2019, the service has been able to take advantage of swarm intelligence. In 2021, more than 1.7 million vehicles in the Volkswagen Group will provide up-to-date data, which is processed in the cloud and displayed on the dashboard or optional head-up display of Audi drivers in Europe. A new method of estimating the friction coefficient based on wheel slip makes it possible to detect slight changes in road grip and upload the data to the cloud for processing, for example to warn drivers following the vehicle about slippery surfaces.
Broken vehicle warning and emergency braking: If a vehicle breaks down on the road, the system immediately sends a warning to all road users within range via C-V2X technology. If a dangerous situation is outside of sight, around a curve or past the crest of the road, direct communication between vehicles may not be enough. In this case, the warning message is sent via the 5G cellular network to the nearest cell tower, which acts as a relay station and transmits the message to other vehicles out of range. This significantly improves safety for all road users, as they can respond more quickly. If a vehicle needs to stop suddenly, a targeted warning is automatically sent via C-V2X to all those driving behind the braking vehicle. It is sent even if they are not directly visible. In China, the system can also warn drivers that an emergency vehicle is approaching.
Signal Information: Connecting vehicles to traffic light systems makes driving in cities more efficient and relaxed. Green Light Optimized Speed AdvisorThe GLOSA (traffic light control system) service calculates and displays the ideal speed to catch the “green light”. For example, GLOSA may suggest gradually slowing down about 250 meters before the light so that you arrive at the intersection just in time for the light to turn green. This cuts down on inefficient stop-and-go traffic. If a stop at a red light is unavoidable, a countdown timer counts down the seconds until the next green light. This “time to green” feature allows drivers to relax and coast to the light, saving fuel as well as making waiting for the green light more relaxed at red lights.
What future applications will C-V2X and 5G enable?
Cooperative DrivingThe aim of cooperative driving is to prevent future accidents and congestion, making driving safer overall. In this context, 5G and C-V2X enable direct, intelligently coordinated and responsive communication between vehicles. This connectivity aims to mitigate critical situations such as turning, overtaking on rural roads and merging into an acceleration lane. C-V2X and 5G also provide the low latency and reliability required for platooning, i.e. efficient driving in a group. If all vehicles stopped at a traffic light accelerate at the same time, more cars will be able to pass through the intersection when the light turns green.
Autonomous Driving: Near real-time communication between vehicles and their environment is a key requirement for various stages from highly automated to autonomous driving. Reaching these stages requires 5G and C-V2X, especially when vehicles are driving on highways or in dense urban traffic and do not have a direct view of hazardous situations. Moreover, 5G provides both the availability and guaranteed quality of service (QoS) required for autonomous driving. Among other requirements, 5G’s high data rates are necessary to transmit highly accurate navigation maps to autonomous vehicles.
Through what projects is Audi supporting 5G research?
Christoph Voigt, head of R&D Connectivity, Smart Antennas and Vehicle2X Technology at Audi, is also chairman of the 5GAA (see below) and is actively involved in the joint research project. At a showcase in Turin in 2019, Audi, Ericsson, Pirelli and Qualcomm demonstrated a combination of 5G, C-V2X, augmented reality and eye-tracking technologies. In the demo, a vehicle whose smart tires detected hydroplaning transmitted sensor data in real time over 5G to the cloud. Then another connected car behind it used data from the cloud to enrich its front camera image and used augmented reality to mark dangerous areas of the road on its display.
In another scenario, they demonstrated direct communication between pedestrians and cars, with the aim of providing timely warning to both road users if, for example, pedestrians cannot see each other and there is a risk of a collision.
As part of the ConVex project, Audi, together with motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, tested C-V2X technology in three common but dangerous situations for motorcyclists: entering an intersection, turning left and the sudden braking of the vehicle in front. The motorbike automatically transmits its position, speed and direction to other road users. If the motorbike in front has to brake, for example, a warning symbol instantly appears on the dashboard of the following car. If a motorbike is approaching, the system warns drivers who are about to turn left above a certain speed of a possible collision. In future, the system, designed to work with all vehicle classes, will be extended to bicycles and smartphones as well.
At CES 2019, Audi held a cross-brand showcase with Ducati, Ford and Qualcomm to demonstrate how C-V2X can be used to solve four-way intersections (where two roads meet and all vehicles must stop) common in the US. The first vehicle to arrive at the intersection can go first. If two or three vehicles arrive at the same time, they need to communicate with each other to safely enter the intersection. In this complex situation, C-V2X helps the driver decide who should go first by letting the vehicles deal with the situation themselves. The vehicles decide the correct order based on the data of the movements of all the vehicles involved and confirm the result to each other. The driver then receives a signal on the instrument panel informing them when they can proceed through the intersection.
In the US, Audi used C-V2X in a pilot project to warn drivers about road works and people on the road. In this case, the dashboard predictively displays information from C-V2X-equipped road signs, both the current speed limit and a graphic showing which lanes are closed. Additionally, the driver is alerted to the presence of construction workers on the road wearing C-V2X vests.
Audi is currently working with private and public partners in the US to investigate risk situations involving a particularly vulnerable group: schoolchildren. For example, vehicles entering school zones with reduced speed limits will automatically receive a warning message on their dashboard via C-V2X. There are also plans to display a warning on the dashboard as soon as a school bus stops at a bus stop to drop off children.
These examples show the potential benefits of connecting vehicles via 5G and C-V2X, which can increase driver awareness of hazardous situations and result in safer driving.
Who are the members of the 5GAA?
The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) is a global, cross-industry organization where companies from the automotive, technology and communications industries come together to develop solutions for future mobility and transportation services. Founded in September 2016 by eight companies, including AUDI AG, 5GAA now has more than 130 members, including automakers, suppliers, mobile network operators and providers of chipsets, communication systems and communications infrastructure.
