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For context, I work in the industry. There are effectively two major use cases for which 5G makes sense: teleoperator backup, and V2X. The former is for Level

For context, I work in the industry. There are effectively two major use cases for which 5G makes sense: teleoperator backup, and V2X. The former is for Level 4 vehicles that might get into situations requiring a human to take over (ex. traffic is being directed by a human at a broken light). If you don't have a safety driver, the vehicle needs to be able to call home and ask for help with video feeds and no wi-fi connection. The latter is for a bunch of concepts that are mostly drawing board-only right now, but could maybe become real in time. Ex., platooning, bypassing traffic signals entirely, automated redirection for traffic decongestion. The issue with this is that OEMs really don't want to pay for the data cost, so there's at least as much effort going into non-cellular alternatives as there is into 5G. But in general, yes, articles stating 5G is necessary to autonomous driving are pretty far off the mark.

derefr 6y ago
> OEMs really don't want to pay for the data cost Isn’t a large part of the point of 5G the enablement of direct Device-to-Device (D2D) connections as a transparent optimization of device-to-tower-to-device links? That’s what is supposed to enable the platooning thing, IIRC. I assumed that there would be no cost for 5G D2D data, since the carriers aren’t a part of the D2D conversation. Just like you’re not travelling over a particular 802.11 AP if you’re temporarily talking to a peer via an ad-hoc connection (e.g. AirDrop.)
mlyle 6y ago
Re: V2X. I believe that it can do a lot to increase safety and systems margins ultimately as autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles become more pervasive. Letting vehicles announce hazard plus their location and intentions can let other vehicles benefit.
- tuatoru 6y ago
  I don't see how it can materially increase safety, as the vehicles will have to be designed to operate safely when 5G/V2X is unavailable. Seems like a solution in search of a problem.
  - mlyle 6y ago
    You don't think that e.g. alerting as to a wrong-way driver or that panic braking is starting before the car behind you could detect it from relative motion has any ability to add margin? V2V is being discussed to augment human drivers and prevent them from rear-ending / improve collision mitigation systems. Why can't it help machines too.

derefr 6y ago

> OEMs really don't want to pay for the data cost Isn’t a large part of the point of 5G the enablement of direct Device-to-Device (D2D) connections as a transparent optimization of device-to-tower-to-device links? That’s what is supposed to enable the platooning thing, IIRC. I assumed that there would be no cost for 5G D2D data, since the carriers aren’t a part of the D2D conversation. Just like you’re not travelling over a particular 802.11 AP if you’re temporarily talking to a peer via an ad-hoc connection (e.g. AirDrop.)

mlyle 6y ago

Re: V2X. I believe that it can do a lot to increase safety and systems margins ultimately as autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles become more pervasive. Letting vehicles announce hazard plus their location and intentions can let other vehicles benefit.

tuatoru 6y ago
I don't see how it can materially increase safety, as the vehicles will have to be designed to operate safely when 5G/V2X is unavailable. Seems like a solution in search of a problem.
- mlyle 6y ago
  You don't think that e.g. alerting as to a wrong-way driver or that panic braking is starting before the car behind you could detect it from relative motion has any ability to add margin? V2V is being discussed to augment human drivers and prevent them from rear-ending / improve collision mitigation systems. Why can't it help machines too.