Samsung Electronics has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KOTSA) to collaborate on next-generation telecommunications technology that will enable autonomous driving innovation across the country.
Through the partnership, both entities will build 4G LTE, 5G and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) telecommunication networks and related IT infrastructures at K-City, Korea’s new testbed for connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies. K-City consists of five real-life simulated cases, urban and rural areas, local communities, highways and parking lots, spread across an 89-acre (36ha) site.
Using advanced vehicle communication technologies, the testbed will create an environment for CAVs to experience real-life road conditions, crossings and tunnels. It will also enable the testing of accident risk situations that can be recreated and repeated, contributing to enhanced safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
Alongside the implementation of network equipment, Samsung will begin building key IT infrastructures to guarantee minimal latency and information security at K-City. Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) near base-stations is critical in supporting instant communication between fast-moving vehicles, and enables them to react to unanticipated events.
Designed as a multipurpose open innovation lab to serve various industries, the communications and IT network in K-City that will be supported by Samsung and KOTSA will be available to professionals and businesses of all sizes. The site will eventually become the region’s center for CAV research, which the participants hope will spearhead the future growth of 5G industries.
Earlier this year, KOTSA signed an MOU with 3M Korea Co. Ltd. for the exchange of technology and resources at the CAV test site. 3M will share application cases from its other CAV research from around the world, will use the facility as a demonstration site for its products, and will also offer its consulting services on the use of road infrastructure and facilities, including the supply of lane markings, road signs, and specialized coatings or films on roadside structures and replica buildings. The company is currently providing similar equipment on CAV testbeds in the USA, including Michigan’s M-City and American Center for Mobility, and GoMentum Station in California.
“By building various telecommunication networks including 5G, 4G and V2X in one place, K-City will provide real-world experiences of autonomous driving for people and businesses across the industry,” explained KOTSA’s director, Byung Yoon Kwon. “This open environment is expected to be served as a unique innovation lab for industry partners that will ultimately enable to accelerate the availability of autonomous driving era.”
Jaeho Jeon, head of global technology services and networks business at Samsung Electronics, said, “The prominence of autonomous vehicles and connected cars is growing rapidly in the 5G era, and our commitment to collaborative innovation in this area is stronger than ever. With our technical expertise in 5G technologies, we are uniquely positioned to establish the foundation of a new industrial ecosystem that will allow the autonomous driving industry to flourish.”
