5G Network Connectivity Automated Test and Verification for Autonomous Vehicles Using UAVs
2022-01-0168
03/29/2022
- Event
- Content
- The significance and the number of vehicle safety features enabled via connectivity continue to increase. OnStar, with its automatic airbag notification, was one of the first vehicle safety features that demonstrate the enhanced safety benefits of connectivity. Vehicle connectivity benefits have grown to include remote software updates, data analytics to aid with preventative maintenance and even to theft prevention and recovery. All of these services require available and reliable connectivity. However, except for the airbag notification, none have strict latency requirements. For example, software updates can generally be postponed till reliable connectivity is available. Data required for prognostics use cases can be stored and transmitted at a later time. A new set of use cases are emerging that do demand continuous, reliable and low latency connectivity. For example, remote control of autonomous vehicles may be required in unique situations. Further, additional autonomous vehicle use case may require continuous low latency connectivity. In general, 5G networks have been proposed as the connectivity choice. 5G providers use either commercially available or their own proprietary network planning and wireless coverage predication software. Typically, spot checks; consisting of expensive equipment in specially retrofit RF site vehicles; are driven within the predicted coverage area to verify performance. However, this sampling of the RF environment does not guarantee coverage in ALL areas. Specifically in urban areas, RF propagation is subject to rapid and unpredictable artifacts that can locally impair the connectivity. We propose a connectivity verification platform that can be used by the automotive OEM or their critical AV partner to verify connectivity performance. The verification platform will leverage automated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to perform detailed network performance measurements. We will discuss the unique network verification needed to guarantee safe AV operation in a geographical area and the development of a measurement system that is compact, lightweight and power efficient for use on UAVs.
- Citation
- Evans, M., Talty, T., Dietrich, C., and Gomez, X., "5G Network Connectivity Automated Test and Verification for Autonomous Vehicles Using UAVs," SAE Technical Paper 2022-01-0168, 2022, .