Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1510154
16 EV and Connected Transportation Though still somewhat futuristic, the option of non- emergency teleoperation (i.e., remote operation) of the fleet is becoming a reality. Teleoperation is ideally suited to better facilitate the transition to electric fleet vehicles and could substantially ease driver strain, enhance overall road safety, and ensure efficient fleet operation. These new features could also include on-road, real-time vehicle coordination using low-latency and ultra-reliable communications (URLLC)—part of the 5G standard—to enable V2V communications. This could allow a single driver to be responsible for several fleet vehicles operating semi-autonomously, as seen in ongoing trials in Europe with follow-the-leader fleet operations. Technologies Needed for 5G V2V and V2I Fleet Management The novel capability of 5G services enables new features previously impossible outside of highly specialized enterprise 4G systems. Being part of a ubiquitous standard with substantial government backing and aggressive service expansion enables 5G solutions that provide low latency, ultra-reliability, extreme speeds, and new network topologies. Vehicle Communication and Infrastructure Communication Part of 5G's novel capabilities includes the ability for 5G systems to intercommunicate directly, peer-to- peer (P2P), without the need to relay information through the infrastructure. This is essential for fleet vehicle coordination or V2V communications. For high-speed vehicles to organize safely and efficiently, the latency of the V2V communication must be as low as fractions of a millisecond or sub-millisecond. Otherwise, control algorithms may not be fast or stable enough to prevent undesirable instabilities and conditions. Moreover, V2V communication must be incredibly reliable to provide gapless, real- time transmission of relatively high data transfer rates. These new 5G-enabled V2V communication capabilities must simultaneously support multiple data streams among several vehicles. To support these capabilities, these fleet vehicles must be equipped with mobile 5G enterprise units that are also paired with GPS, a tie-in to the vehicle diagnostic information, and AI/ML edge nodes (Figure 2). Autonomous vehicle functions or teleoperation also necessitates a full suite of machine vision (MV) capabilities, including visual cameras, infrared cameras, proximity sensors, millimeter wave (mmWave) automotive radar, and possibly light detection and ranging (lidar). To accommodate V2I satellite communications, fleet vehicles will need a satellite communication link with associated satellite tracking technology. Such systems will also need their own data storage, memory, backup power, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection. These mobile 5G units will likely also benefit from additional wireless connectivity, including Wi-Fi ® 6E, Bluetooth Low Energy, and possibly other smart device services. Figure 2: 5G-equipped fleets will need to pair with GPS and include autonomous and AI features for heightened monitoring and efficiency. (Source: AA+W/Stock.Adobe.com)