Unveiling Autonomous Confidence: Mastering Tests and Standards
Christoph Wagner and Holger Rosier from Rohde & Schwarz discuss the standards and tests that will shape the future of autonomous driving.
Autonomous Driving: The Road Ahead
The dream of autonomous driving promises unparalleled mobility and travel ease. But to make this vision a reality, many different components and systems need to work together seamlessly. It’s not just about having cutting-edge technology; all industry players must agree on standards, components must be highly reliable, and there must be interoperability across different manufacturers.
Growing Attention and Benefits
Autonomous driving, which lets users hand over full control to the vehicle, is drawing more interest lately. Car manufacturers are frequently announcing new models featuring advanced automation. This technology offers more safety and comfort for users, and society stands to gain from more sustainable mobility and smoother traffic flow. Reduced accidents are also a big selling point. Governments in many countries are backing this initiative with supportive policies.
The Tech Behind It
Making autonomous driving work involves more than just putting sensors like radar, cameras, and lidar in cars. It also requires precise location data and very accurate maps, which are constantly updated using cellular technology to connect vehicles to backend servers. Better data sharing between different brands will enhance cooperative driving. Predictive route and maneuver planning will improve safety, comfort, and efficiency, especially in bad weather when sensors might struggle.
Reaching Agreement and Cooperation
We’re seeing the most significant shift in mobility since horses were replaced by cars. Up until recently, car makers and their suppliers ran the show. Now, a range of industries are stepping in, aiming to be key players in the push for autonomous driving.
Sensors are vital for self-driving cars and are already used in features like park assist and adaptive cruise control. These technologies will advance to the point where they can keep a car in its lane, change lanes, detect other vehicles and obstacles, and react appropriately—all on their own.
However, some complex traffic situations can’t be managed effectively without the car communicating with its environment. Recognizing the intentions of other road users is crucial for safely executing complex maneuvers like changing lanes or merging in traffic.
The Role of Cellular Communications
Cellular systems are key to this communication. For autonomous cars to drive themselves and relieve drivers of full liability, there needs to be broad consensus across the value chain, including extended market environments.
Vehicles will not only rely on their own sensors but also on real-time data from other cars and backend systems. This enhanced environmental model will allow for better situational awareness and decision-making. While first-generation intelligent transportation systems focused on providing information to the driver, future systems will enable direct control interventions, a crucial step in fully autonomous driving.
High Data Needs
Successful autonomous driving requires the ability to perform cooperative maneuvers, share sensor data, and keep map information up to date—all of which demand high data rates, low latency, and consistent network connectivity.
