CTAG leads the first public demonstration of autonomous driving supported by 5G technology on the border between Spain and Portugal

These tests have been carried out within the framework of the 5G-MOBIX European project, focused on 5G technology for advanced Connected and Automated Mobility. The demonstrations carried out reveal the impact of the solutions tested in various scenarios of a dynamic border route characterized by the low latency and the service continuity enabled by the 5G network.

At the Tui-Valença international bridge, with the 100% electric autonomous shuttle developed by CTAG, two main use cases were presented: speed adaptation, where the autonomous shuttle slows down or stops to avoid a pedestrian thanks to the information provided by the infrastructure and the 5G network; and remote driving in a critical situation, where the vehicle relinquishes control to an operator to drive remotely from the control centre.

CTAG’s tracks also hosted live tests within the framework of the 5G-MOBIX project. Specifically, tests were carried out where an autonomous vehicle, in transit alongside non-connected vehicles, receives, through 5G, information on the position of the vehicles in the main lanes (for example, on a motorway), predicts their trajectories and adapts the speed for a safe merging manoeuvre.

Other tests focused on updating maps in real time: when the autonomous vehicle receives information from the traffic management centre about road works; the vehicle onboard unit receives the information, compares it with its own map, and concludes that its internal map is out of date. At that moment, it prompts the driver to take control and begins to record the information captured by the sensors. Once the vehicle has cleared the road works, it continues its way, in autonomous mode, and the on-board unit sends the data recorded by the sensors, via 5G, to the ITS Centre, which processes everything and generates a new map in HD. This new map is sent by the 5G network to nearby vehicles so that they can clear the road works autonomously.

Nearly one hundred technicians and representatives of the different project partners attended the presentation of the results of the 5G-M project and the live tests.

For more information, please check the press release of the event.