The increasing number of connected devices in today’s vehicles has spawned an all-too-common dilemma: how to get all these devices to communicate with one another. Automotive products supplier Bosch is trying to make V2X communications a reality, by developing a universal connectivity unit that can communicate using many of the transmissions standards implemented in connected automobiles.
To develop this product, Bosch has teamed with Silicon Valley start-up Veniam to develop software that continuously searches for the best transmission technology that suits the particular requirements, and switches automatically between the available alternatives. According to the companies, the software maintains continuous and seamless vehicle connectivity. Cars can then use the WiFi networks available in cities, while elsewhere they can communicate using, for instance, cellular networks.
The stakes are huge, given that reports indicate the number of connected vehicles on the roads in Europe, the United States, and China alone will exceed 470 million by 2025 (source: PwC). V2X will enable vehicles to communicate directly with one another as well as with traffic signals, road construction sites, pedestrian crossings, and buildings. Thus, vehicles will be able to alert one another to potential hazards, including traffic jams, accidents, and bad road conditions. Vehicles will also be alerted of traffic signal changes, thus allowing drivers to adjust their speeds and make for smoother traffic flow.
The hurdle has been trying to achieve a harmonized standard for V2X communication. For instance, China primarily employs Cellular-V2X technology (C-V2X), which is based on mobile communications. However, Europe and the United States are planning to additionally introduce transmission standards based on WiFi (DSRC and ITS-G5) alongside C-V2X. According to Bosch, the universal connectivity unit will allow vehicles to communicate with one another as well as with their surroundings, regardless of the vehicle make or the country in which they are used.
The key is Veniam’s software. Besides keeping an eye on which V2X communication technologies are currently available for use, the software also closely monitors the costs and data transmission latency of each alternative connection option, since not every technology is suitable in every situation. For instance, the software is able to give priority to critical driver vehicle alerts while putting off a software update from the cloud or a navigational system map update.
Making V2X Viable
The connectivity unit is part of Bosch’s efforts to make V2X communications viable. Since February 2017, Bosch, Vodafone, and Huawei have been performing trials of V2X communication with the first 5G test modules―the first companies in Europe to do so. The A9 freeway in Bavaria north of Munich is the location for the field tests, which focus on real-time warning systems during lane changing maneuvers on the freeway. V2X will also be able to make driver assistance functions even more comfortable, like adaptive cruise control (ACC).
This past summer, Bosch tested secure, direct communication between vehicles and roadside infrastructure, cameras, and sensors in Detroit. The test showcased WiFi-based DSRC technology, where equipped vehicles were provided with in-vehicle notifications about the status of traffic signals ahead and pedestrians crossing the street. ESCRYPT, a Bosch Group subsidiary, provided the cybersecurity technologies behind these V2X demonstrations.
In China, Bosch is testing ad-hoc communication using WiFi as well as cellular technology. The tests are focusing on alerts that help the driver when overtaking or negotiating complex intersections.