The first over-the-air 5G New Radio test user equipment (UE) in Europe has been delivered to WMG at the University of Warwick in the UK. Fully compliant with release 15 of the 5G technology standard developed by the 3GPP, it can emulate full UE operation and test real-time performance of 5G wireless connections to external base stations.
The equipment will be installed in connected and autonomous vehicles being tested on the Midlands Future Mobility (MFM) testbed on the university campus to share sensor data with other vehicles and the roadside infrastructure.
With the accelerating deployment of 5G functions on existing wireless telecommunication networks, the time is right to test the full potential of 5G independently. As the lead of the MFM testbed for CAVs, WMG has set enabling and performance testing of high-throughput, low-latency CAV use-cases as one of its key research focuses.
Its use-cases include remote driving and enhanced vehicular perception through the sharing of sensor data with other vehicles and the roadside infrastructure. Moreover, WMG also aims to enhance the quality of future mobility services by exploring how to seamlessly stream infotainment content for CAV passengers over a 5G link.
WMG and MFM are already engaged with a variety of industrial partners regarding connectivity, technology verification and validation, and the understanding and optimization of user interaction with driverless technology.
WMG’s Dr Matthew Higgins, said, “Crucial to our research strategy is the ability to understand and demonstrate the potential of 5G communications systems to our project partners early in their product development cycle. NI’s latest 5G test solution enables us to conduct standard-compliant, real-time 5G link performance tests inside both a controlled lab environment, as well as outdoors in campus trials, before commercial hardware is available.”
Dr Erik Kampert, HVM Catapult senior research fellow, added, “Being experienced users of state-of-the-art 5G communications equipment, this unique UE solution from NI facilitates us to expand our capabilities for CR&D work and collaborative project with CAV partners.”