Audi, Ducati, Ericsson, Qualcomm demonstrates C-V2X Technology

Audi, Ducati, Ericsson, SWARCO, the Technical University of Kaiserslautern and Qualcomm have announced Europe’s first live demonstration for C-V2X direct communication interoperability between a motorcycle, vehicles and roadside infrastructure.

The demonstration featured Audi Q7 and Audi A4 road vehicles, as well as a Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro two-wheel vehicle equipped with C-V2X technology utilizing Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset solution.

The showcase demonstrated common situations that can take place between motorcycles and vehicles and how C-V2X technology can be used to improve road safety. These include intersection collision warning, where a vehicle equipped with C-V2X technology pulls out from a junction with an adjoining road and avoids hitting a motorcycle rider who has the right of way, as well as across traffic turn collision risk warning, in which a vehicle avoids a left turn collision with a motorcycle.

The consortium is co-funded by the participating organizations and the German Federal Ministry of Transportation and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) within the scope of the “Automated and Connected Driving on Digital Test Fields in Germany” program.

During the trials, C-V2X direct communications for Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) and Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) scenarios operates over the 5.9 GHz ITS spectrum without the need for a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), cellular subscription or network assistance.

Complementing direct communication transmissions, network-based communications is designed to utilize the wireless operator’s 4G and emerging 5G wireless networks for Vehicle-to-Network (V2N) communication and operates over licensed operator spectrum to support telematics, connected infotainment, and a growing variety of advanced informational safety use cases. V2N scenarios for the trials operates on Ericsson’s 4G and 5G test network in Germany in the cellular 2.6 GHz band.

Christoph Voigt, Head of Development Connectivity, Mobile Communications, Car2X Technologies for Audi and 5GAA Chairman said, “As the ConVeX project trials continue, the project partners will further showcase benefits to road users in safety and other areas, using technology to deliver safer, smoother journeys with less environmental impact.”

“This is the perfect demonstration of use cases in which the modern technologies can drastically improve the safety of future motorcycle users,” said Pierluigi Zampieri, Vehicle Innovation Manager, Ducati Motor Holding.

“At Ericsson, we are convinced that with our Connected Car technology we can contribute to more safety on the roads,” said Stefan Koetz, chairman of the management board of Ericsson GmbH. “This is why we are currently focusing on 5G-based mobility solutions like C-V2X, whether in test series like today’s ConVeX trials or large-scale test fields, such as the 5G Connected Mobility testbed on the A9.”

Wassim Chourbaji, Vice President of Government Affairs, Qualcomm EMEA said, “As a leader in 5G innovation, Qualcomm is working with the ConVeX project to further enhance C-V2X in 3GPP as we enable the evolution to 5G NR, making possible advanced capabilities such as intent and sensor sharing which support automated driving.”