Car-to-car communication: mobile communications connect cars

F or the complete networking of all road users, Vodafone relies on the new LTE-V2X cellular technology, with which not only cars will be able to communicate directly in the future. Vehicles should also be able to exchange information directly with pedestrians, traffic lights and intersections - and in real time.

This should, for example, be used to forward information about potentially dangerous situations to other road users particularly quickly and to avoid accidents. Less or no more traffic jams save time and fuel. The project partners are assuming up to 15% less fuel consumption.

At CeBIT, the three companies are already presenting different scenarios of direct communication between road users. Vehicles receive an immediate warning if a car in front brakes because, for example, a ball rolls onto the road. Drivers can see the field of vision of other vehicles in front via live stream. This means that you can see the road even when large vehicles block your direct view. Vodafone also shows how cars receive a warning as soon as pedestrians approach the roadside, for example to cross a zebra crossing.

Toyota field test from 2018

The Japanese car manufacturer Toyota relies on the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), Japan's leading telecommunications company, to network vehicles. Both companies are examining, among other things, the use of the next generation of mobile communications standards: The new 5G improves and accelerates data exchange. In addition, user-friendly services that support the driver with artificial intelligence and the interaction between the car and the traffic infrastructure in everyday life are to be developed, and the structure of data centers and a global infrastructure are to be investigated.

A first field test with appropriately equipped Toyota models are already planned for 2018.