USA-based semiconductor and telecommunications equipment company Qualcomm Technologies Inc. has introduced a new cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) commercial system that aims to improve road safety by accelerating the introduction of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs).
Based on 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 14 specifications for PC5-based direct communications, the Qualcomm C-V2X Reference Design will feature the 9150 C-V2X chipset with integrated GNSS capability, and include an application processor running the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) V2X stack and a Hardware Security Module (HSM).
C-V2X’s overarching technologies encompass two transmission modes of direct and network-based communications, which are designed to serve as key features for safety conscious and autonomous driving solutions, while complementing other Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) sensors, such as cameras, radar and lidar, to provide information about the vehicle’s surroundings, including non-line-of-sight (NLOS) scenarios.
C-V2X direct communications is designed to support active safety and helps enhance situational awareness by detecting and exchanging information using low latency transmission in the globally harmonized 5.9GHz ITS band for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), and vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) scenarios without the need for a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), cellular subscription, or network assistance.
Complementing direct communication transmissions, the network-based communications is designed to use the wireless operator’s 4G and emerging 5G wireless networks for vehicle-to-network (V2N) and operates over licensed operator spectrum to support telematics, connected infotainment and a growing variety of advanced informational safety use cases.
“The introduction of the 9150 C-V2X chipset demonstrates our continued commitment to design and offer advanced solutions for safe, connected and increasingly autonomous vehicles,” said Nakul Duggal, vice president of product management at Qualcomm Technologies.
“With its strong synergy with telematics and an evolution toward 5G, C-V2X offers benefits to the automotive industry by developing new capabilities for improving road safety, and enhancing autonomous driving and advanced connected services, while building on the ITS momentum and investments made over the last decade. C-V2X is expected to support safer roads, increase productivity, and decrease traffic congestion.”
Dr Thomas Müller, head of electrics/electronics at Audi, commented, “Qualcomm’s anticipated 9150 C-V2X chipset serves as a major milestone in paving the road for 5G and safer autonomous driving. As C-V2X continues to serve as an essential ingredient for enhanced safety for next-generation vehicles, Qualcomm’s 9150 chipset will certainly help accelerate the adoption and deployment of C-V2X technologies.”
