To what extent can 5G change car life?

In our history of human technology development, "high efficiency" has always been one of the core goals in various fields. For example, we hope that cars can run faster, more energy efficient, and last longer. Similarly, the field of mobile communication technology is also pursuing faster information transmission capabilities, and 5G communication technology is currently the hottest topic. Compared with the current mainstream 4G network, the 5G network has faster data transmission and lower signal delay, so it has a broader application space. What will happen if 5G technology is combined with the automotive industry?

If you compare the 2G network to walking, the 3G network to a bicycle, and the 4G network to a speeding car, then the 5G network is equivalent to a rocket flying at full speed, and the transmission efficiency among them is totally different.

With the help of 5G communication technology, what changes will our car life have? Although it may seem irrelevant, the core advantage of 5G communication technology is efficient information transmission capability, which has a very broad application prospect in the field of automotive technology. For example, in-vehicle interconnection, remote interaction and even autonomous driving, etc.

-Basic application: car networking

At present, most automobile manufacturers have not continued to develop original systems that are time-consuming, labor-intensive and not very easy to use, and instead introduce third-party application systems. This not only saves costs, but also caters to the habits of most users.

Mobile phone interconnection is also one of the configurations that users are very familiar with, and this feature also requires network support. Today, as the interaction between mobile phones and in-vehicle systems is getting closer, the demand for network data on the in-vehicle terminal is also increasing.

With the continuous enrichment of the functions of in-vehicle systems, a more efficient network transmission rate can not only improve the experience of the in-vehicle system, but also realize the connection of smart devices such as mobile phones with the car.

Looking at information related to automotive technology, you will find that in-vehicle networking technology has become a very mainstream and necessary in-vehicle function. Today, almost every newly launched model has more or less functional configurations related to in-vehicle networking.

-Advanced application: V2X information interaction

Speaking of V2X (Vehicle to Everything), many people will feel unfamiliar. In fact, the core of this technology is to allow the car to connect to the outside world and communicate in real time.

With the help of V2X technology, the efficiency and safety of public transportation travel will be greatly improved. For example, the traffic signal system can be optimally adjusted according to the driving path of each vehicle, thereby improving the traffic efficiency of the intersection.

The core carrier of V2X technology is network communication. The network mentioned here needs to carry frequent, large-scale and real-time information transmission, which places very strict requirements on the communication network. The emergence of 5G technology also provides a basis for the viability of V2X technology.

Although these forward-looking technologies have not yet been widely used in large-scale applications, they have become the general trend of future automotive interconnection technology. Among all V2X technologies, the V2X technology based on the existing 4G network or the future 5G network is called C-V2X.

-High-end application: autonomous driving

When it comes to autonomous driving, almost all car manufacturers in the world are conducting research and development and testing of related technologies, and they are also putting increasingly comprehensive and reliable assisted driving technologies in mass-produced models. It is almost certain that the degree of human involvement in driving cars will only decrease in the future, and the era of autonomous vehicles will eventually come. To achieve true autonomous driving, many technical difficulties need to be overcome, including details such as sensors, high-precision maps, intelligent algorithms, supporting facilities, and related regulations. At the same time, efficient and reliable network communication is also an essential technical foundation.

At present, autonomous driving mainly has two technical routes: bicycle intelligence and road network intelligence. Among them, bicycle intelligence requires vehicles to have strong perception capabilities and algorithms, so R&D costs and difficulties are relatively high. Road network intelligence uses real-time connections between cars and cars, cars and roads, and cars and transportation facilities to realize autonomous driving capabilities.

Route 1: Single car intelligence

Relying on the vehicle's own sensors, high-precision maps, automatic algorithms, etc., the vehicle can reach or exceed the perception capabilities of human drivers. But at present, this technology is extremely difficult and costly.

Route 2: Road network intelligence

Relying on high-speed and stable communication network signals, real-time communication of vehicles, roads, infrastructure, and other traffic environments is carried out to reduce the vehicle's dependence on its own sensors. Although this technology has a large amount of engineering, it is relatively easy to implement technically.

With the help of 5G communication technology, the intelligent communication information of the road network can be efficiently interacted, thereby improving the reliability and timeliness of information transmission. This is also the emergence of 5G communication technology, which has brought new breakthroughs to the rapid implementation of autonomous driving.

Today, the three major domestic telecommunications operators have achieved 5G commercialization, and first-tier cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou have basically achieved 5G signal coverage. At the same time, more and more industries are launching various interconnected services based on 5G communications. It is no exaggeration to say that the era of the Internet of Everything based on 5G communications has quietly entered every detail of our lives. In the automotive field, the functions of the information age such as intelligent interconnection, Internet of Vehicles, and OTA upgrades are becoming mainstream, and we are also beginning to change our car-using habits. In this context, it is difficult to say to what extent 5G communication technology will change our car life, but this level must be earth-shaking.