In our ongoing “Meet Our Members” series, we explore the unique journeys and expertise of the individuals who make the 5G Automotive Association. Each interview sheds light onto the incredible work, vision, and passion of the people behind our organisation. You can check out our last conversation with Menno Malta, CEO of Monotch, here.

This time, we introduce Jyoti Sharma, Associate Director of Network Planning at Verizon and alternate board member at 5GAA since 2021. Jyoti has brought her deep industry insight to a range of work items, including Vehicle-to-Network-to-Everything (V2N2X) and has led initiatives such as the Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Demo. Her commitment to accelerating the large-scale deployment of V2X technologies make her a valuable contributor to the 5GAA, and we’re excited to learn more about her perspective on the future of 5G and MEC in transportation.

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Could you tell us briefly about Verizon’s involvement in 5GAA and how your company benefits from being a member?

Verizon has been an active member of 5GAA since its inception. We started out as a general member and initially contributed at the working group level. We saw tremendous value in taking a leadership role in 5GAA as a major U.S. telecommunications provider and were elected by the members as a gold board member in 2021. Currently, Verizon is a platinum board member of 5GAA and we are playing a critical strategic role as one of the key stakeholders in the V2X ecosystem. 

When did you first become part of the 5GAA board? What are some of your responsibilities, and what has been your most rewarding experience so far?

I represent Verizon on the 5GAA board as an alternate board member since 2021. In my role as a board member I have the privilege and responsibility to ensure 5GAA remains focused on key strategic focus areas which will accelerate a large-scale deployment of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) across the globe. My most rewarding experience has been to collaborate with other 5GAA members who are leaders from auto OEM customers, their tier 1 suppliers, chipset and module providers and other ecosystem partners. This technical collaboration between all the stakeholders is the key to drive innovation and unlock the full potential of V2X communications at scale and make it a reality.

Can you share any recent examples of how Verizon has collaborated with other 5GAA members to drive innovation in the industry?

Verizon has taken a leadership role in bringing the V2X ecosystem partners together under the 5GAA umbrella. We have demonstrated thought leadership in defining the network architecture to solve challenging V2X requirements leveraging key technology enablers such as 5G, multi-access edge computing (MEC) and Hyper Precise Location. Our recent V2X VRU (Vulnerable Road User) demo in Detroit showcasing interoperability between different network operators and application providers generated a very positive response and engagement from auto OEMs, Departments of Transportation and road operators. The demo was successful due to close collaboration with several 5GAA member companies.

As the lead of the VRU DEMO Work Item, could you elaborate on the significance of demonstrating interoperability in the context of Vulnerable Road User protection solutions?

VRU DEMO is one of the key strategic focus areas at the 5GAA board level that the industry has been trying to address for many decades. We believe the C-V2X and other technology enablers (5G, MEC, Hyper Precise Location) are ready to mitigate the number of road accidents involving vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. In order to deploy such a VRU solution at scale it needs to work across multiple operators, multiple auto OEMs, multiple application providers and multiple cloud providers. We reached a significant milestone by demonstrating interoperability amongst different stakeholders and showcased the technology is ready to deploy at scale with existing networks. The learnings from the demo are being replicated in other parts of the world and are informing U.S. DOT V2X Deployment plans.

What criteria were used to select the specific use cases for demonstration in VRU DEMO? How did these use cases represent real-world scenarios and challenges?

There has been extensive discussion within 5GAA to define different VRU scenarios. Different flavors of VRU use cases have been documented in published technical reports. The demo team carefully selected most common real world VRU scenarios such as active pedestrian crossing alert and using roadside cameras and artificial intelligence, machine learning logic in the MEC to detect pedestrians and alert the drivers to avoid potential collision. 

Verizon participated in the demos with a showcase of its network solution using multi-access edge computing. How does MEC differ from traditional network-based computing in terms of its benefits for VRU protection applications? 

MEC allows us to bring traditional cloud compute and storage within the mobile network closer to the edge where the data is generated reducing the end to end latency. It is well established that MEC is a key differentiator and technology enabler for latency critical use cases such as VRU protection. Verizon has already deployed public MEC across the United States in partnership with cloud providers. We continue to drive innovation by developing standard MEC and Network APIs for application providers. During the VRU demo we demonstrated near real time VRU alerts over 5G and applications hosted on Verizon’s Detroit MEC. 

Syntony GNSS is a developer of a software based GNSS location technology designed to shape the future of navigation.

To advance the dialogue between high-level institutional and industry stakeholders on current challenges in the field of connected and automated mobility, the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) is organising an online conference on 28 September 2021, from 9:15 AM to 3 PM CEST.

Representatives from the European institutions, local and national authorities as well as 5GAA members will discuss ongoing challenges for connected and automated mobility and provide solutions by presenting the capabilities and deployment models of the Cellular-Vehicle-to-Everything (“C-V2X”) technology.

If you have any questions, please get in touch at secretariat@5gaa.org.

BERLIN, 25 October 2024 – The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) this week demonstrated the latest innovations in the Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology family to help achieve “Vision Zero” for all road users. The demonstrations illustrated the potential of 5G-V2X to enable new use cases integrated across multiple automakers, service providers, and mobile network operators.

For the very first time, 5GAA demonstrated 5G-V2X Direct technology integration in Audi and BMW vehicles with the support of 5GAA members Autotalks, Bosch, Commsignia, and Fraunhofer FOKUS. This demonstration illustrated how technology can alert drivers about pedestrians and cyclists even before they can see them, leveraging sensors and a camera feed from other vehicles. The demonstrations showed the high bandwidth and low latency performance characteristics of 5G-V2X Direct using ETSI Release 2 messages.

5GAA members Bosch, Commsignia, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Keysight Technologies, LG Electronics, Mercedes-Benz and Vodafone, and the Coalition for Cyclist Safety, showcased ready-to-deploy, interoperable applications to increase awareness of vulnerable road users and emergency vehicles on public roads in central Berlin. Safety awareness alerts were delivered via 4G and 5G networks with low latency thanks to Multi-Access-Edge Computing and precise positioning, as verified by Anritsu’sperformance measurements. ETSI-standardised messages were shared in real time between apps from various service providers.

“In Germany and across Europe, the ecosystem is ready to leverage the tens of millions of vehicles already connected via mobile networks and is now geared for the 2^nd generation technology with 5G-V2X including direct communications,” said 5GAA Chairman Christoph Voigt.

Autotalks and Bosch, together with Commsignia, demonstrated the benefits of collective perception related to vulnerable road users. Ettifos, Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz and SEA Datentechnik also exhibited 5G-V2X Direct interoperability and conformity solutions and radio performance verification.

To show that C-V2X is about both safety and efficiency, Audi, supported by Commsignia and Autotalks, demonstrated a use case for “cooperative parking” based on 5G-V2X Direct.

In line with 5GAA’s Visionary 2030 Roadmap, 5G is continuously being deployed in many car models and 5G-V2X Direct is expected to be mass-deployed in commercial vehicle models as early as 2026. This week’s event underlined the continuous commitment of major European automakers to 5G-V2X following 5GAA’s Open Statement^[1] in 2023.

About the 5GAA

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) is a global, cross-industry organization of more than 120 members, including leading global automakers, Tier-1 suppliers, mobile operators, semiconductor companies, and test equipment vendors. 5GAA members work together to develop end-to-end solutions for future mobility and transport services. 5GAA is committed to helping define and develop the next generation of connected mobility, automated vehicles, and intelligent transport solutions based on C-V2X. For more information about 5GAA, please visit www.5GAA.org.

For further information

Please see our brochure about the Berlin demonstrations here:https://5gaa.org/content/uploads/2024/10/5gaa-berlin-demos-brochure.pdf

Media contact: marcom@5GAA.org

^[1] https://5gaa.org/content/uploads/2024/10/5gaa-open-letter-september-2023.pdf

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) will host a technology demonstration event in Berlin on 24 October, showcasing the potential of Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology to redefine mobility across Europe. The event will take place with 5GAA members, leaders from the automotive, telecommunications and technology sectors; it will feature over 10 indoor and outdoor demonstrations that address both critical safety and advanced applications.

C-V2X leverages cellular networks to connect vehicles with each other, infrastructure, and pedestrians, aiming to enhance safety and convenience on the roads. This technology has gained momentum globally, with favourable legislative frameworks in Europe, the U.S. and beyond, and commitment from automakers. This signifies a robust ecosystem that is ready to leverage a huge amount of already existing connected vehicles and deploying further C-V2X solutions at scale.

In countries like Germany, traffic accidents remain a significant concern, with the country alone recording 2.5 million incidents in 2023 and pedestrian safety a growing issue. It is also estimated that up to 40% of traffic in German urban centres stems from drivers searching for parking. C-V2X is positioned to address these challenges.

The Berlin demo event will build upon the 5GAA demonstrations held last year in Detroit, which revolved around vulnerable road user protection. This year, the focus will shift to showcasing similar and new use cases in a European environment, utilising existing European mobile infrastructure.

The event will be preceded by the 5GAA conference titled “Scaling Up Connected Mobility: What’s Next for Germany and Europe?” This combined event offers a unique platform for attendees to engage with industry leaders and stakeholders.

Registration and Media Inquiries:

For further information and registration, please contact secretariat@5gaa.org.

Journalists interested in attending can reach out to marcom@5gaa.org.

The 24^th 5GAA F2F Meeting Week will take place in Málaga, Spain, from 17-21 October 2022.

SwRI is a R&D problem solvers providing independent, premier services to government and industry clients.

Uncrewed ground robots (UGRs), such as delivery bots and road maintenance machines, are rapidly being tested and deployed worldwide. These robots operate autonomously on roads and sidewalks, performing tasks like deliveries and road cleaning. Countries such as the U.S., Korea, and Japan are already establishing regulations to integrate UGRs safely into public spaces.

While UGRs are becoming more common, their interaction with current intelligent transportation systems (ITS) is still evolving. Most ITS standards focus on vehicles carrying people, so UGRs, which introduce new safety and visibility challenges, have not been fully addressed.

Many UGRs will connect via 4G/5G networks for fleet management, but questions remain about how autonomous or remotely controlled they will be. Integrating UGRs into C-V2X (Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything) communication could enhance safety by improving interaction with other vehicles, pedestrians, and infrastructure, paving the way for safer and more efficient roads.

Find the full report here.

5GAA’s Meeting and the General Assembly are taking place virtually on 26 April – 5 May 2021.

 

Sumitomo Electronics is a manufacturer of electric wire and optical fiber cables.