A number of European telecommunications and automotive sector trade bodies have announced the launch of a large-scale, pre-deployment project to test connected and automated driving at the EU level. The stated goal of the initiative launched by the GSMA, the European Telecommunications and Network Operators association (ETNO), the European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA), the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) is to strengthen Europe’s leadership in connected and automated driving by accelerating the EU-wide deployment of related key technologies.
Focusing on use cases and test functionalities in the three key areas of automated driving, road safety and traffic efficiency, and the digitalisation of transports and logistics, work on the project is set to start in 2017. A first phase, to run until 2019, will feature tests on available communication technologies, such as 4G LTE, while a second phase, to run until 2021, will be based on both 4G and 5G technologies.
Trials will focus on addressing cross-border challenges such as the lack of harmonised spectrum, seamless network handover of vehicles at borders and open road infrastructure data, said the consortium in a joint statement. Functions that are being considered include high density platooning, cooperative collision avoidance, remote control parking, local-hazard warnings and traffic flow optimisation. High definition maps will be updated with a fast connection to the internet on phones or other mobile devices.
The foundations of the project were outlined at a meeting hosted by EC digital economy commissioner Gunther Oettinger, with the consortium of European companies stressing that use cases will be operated across several EU countries and will set the scene for future standardisation activities. The industry consortium, to be set up later this year, will define the exact scope of the project and start talks with EU and national authorities regarding possible co-financing.
