Israeli semiconductor company Autotalks has demonstrated its latest V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communications chip. As the move toward autonomous vehicles gathers pace, every manufacturer will have to incorporate wireless connectivity into their new cars. This will enable every vehicle on the road to communicate with one another, as well as with surrounding infrastructure like traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. Even before self-driving cars become the norm, new vehicles will be equipped with non-line-of-sight sensors that work in all environments.
The aim of the technology is to improve safety in all driving conditions. It helps prevent collisions, alerts drivers if they are approaching a dangerous situation, and complements existing sensors in autonomous vehicles. The demonstration showcased vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) connectivity. Autotalks also showed how its system could be protected from cyberattacks by using roadside units.
In the USA, parts of Europe, and Japan, the focus has been on equipping vehicles with dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) technology that delivers the same results using a wi-fi-like signal. However, many other global manufacturers – particularly in China and Western Europe – prefer the C-V2X architecture that runs on a cellular network. To maintain compatibility with both systems, Autotalks and Neusoft recently signed a cooperation agreement that allowed them to create a reliable and secure global solution. Their mass-market second-generation automotive-qualified AEC-Q100 grade 2 chipset gives manufacturers full functionality with both architectures, and it doesn’t require an expensive cellular network on which to run.
Onn Haran, Autotalks’ CTO, commented, “Having end-to-end secure and interoperable C-V2X solutions is a must for commercial deployment in China. Following our extensive work with the ecosystem in China – and with Neusoft – to mature our C-V2X solution and comply with Chinese standards for radio, functionality and security, we are now ready for the upcoming wave of OEM deployments.”
“We are very proud to reach this important milestone in the fast-growing intelligent connected vehicle market in China. The successful end-to-end C-V2X demonstration with five car makers and our ecosystem partners shows the maturity of our C-V2X technology as we head toward mass deployment in China and globally,” added Ram Shallom, VP of business development and marketing, APAC, at Autotalks.