5G Verticals

9Connected Automobiles

Murali Narasimha^1,* and Ana Lucia Pinheiro^2,**

¹ Futurewei Technologies, Rolling Meadows, IL, USA

² Intel Corporation, Hillsboro, OR, USA

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the value that 5G brings to connected vehicles. In particular, the higher data rates and lower latency enable in-vehicle applications that can consume large amounts of data, while low-latency communication can enable fast mechanical control loops. In addition to high data rates and low latency, one key feature of 5G that is particularly relevant to connected vehicles is edge computing. By deploying computing capabilities near the end user, the system can take advantage of localized information, such as map updates and weather notifications. This chapter concentrates in two main use cases: vehicle platooning and high definition maps, and how 5G and edge computing can assist to provide the best experience to the end user. Before discussing the use cases, the chapter describes the five levels of vehicle automation and give an overview of multi-access edge computing, an important feature of 5G that helps enable use cases such as the ones described.

Keywords 5G network; connected automobiles; high definition maps; multi-access edge computing; platoon-based driving; vehicle automation

9.1 Introduction

Anyone who has lived in or near a metropolitan area is aware that our current transportation systems are stretched beyond capacity. The loss of life and damage to property from automobiles ...