The vision for our project is to create the knowledge and tools needed to enable high-speed low-latency connectivity to

cars. This project considers testing, evaluating and enhancing the performance of 5G communications in a vehicular

environment and in particular in a motorway scenario.

 

Connected vehicles can use wireless communications for safety and infotainment applications and to exchange sensor data to enable autonomous driving. Vehicles are becoming more automated, using sensing and communication to shift control further from the human driver to an automated driving computer. This requires vehicles that carry a large number of sensors that exchange high data rate sensor row data streams. Current networks such as 802.11p and LTE, do not support the gigabit-per-second data rates that would be

required for sensor data exchange between vehicles and infrastructure. Recently, millimeter wave (mmWave) techniques

have been introduced as a means of achieving such high data rate streams. Provision of broadband connectivity to drivers

is also a significant opportunity to enhance customer experience and satisfaction.

 

This projects aims to deliver a practical broadband demonstration using innovative mmWave technologies. Using

basestations spaced regularly along the motorway or road, data rates in the order of gigabits per second are anticipated.

The project will develop a prototype mmWave vehicular communication system and is committed to performing two vehicular trials, the first in Bristol and the second at JLR's Gaydon test track. Our project will bring together academics from the University of Bristol and industry (JLR, BT, BWT). Our project team will develop a technology demonstrator to showcase the project outputs.