1221 Mw Rohde Audi C V2 X Test Promo 61a93a019cead

Rohde & Schwarz, Audi Team on Cellular-V2X Road-Traffic Scenario Tests

Dec. 2, 2021

In partnering to enable C-V2X application testing, Rohde & Schwarz and Audi create road-traffic scenarios in the laboratory and use them to conduct end-to-end testing on Audi’s proving ground.

David Maliniak

Related To: Microwaves & RF

It’s hoped that cellular-V2X (C-V2X) technology will proliferate in the coming years to increase traffic efficiency, improve road safety, and enhance autonomous driving. A key element is the C-V2X PC5 interface, operating in the 5.9-GHz ITS frequency band. This PC5 interface enables direct, reliable, low-latency communications between vehicles (V2V), vehicles and infrastructure (V2I), and vehicles and pedestrians (V2P).

Getting C-V2X technology deployed, though, is going to call for more cooperation between industry players. To that end, a joint project by Audi, Rohde & Schwarz, and Vector Informatik has developed a C-V2X test solution that allows traffic scenarios involving multiple simulated vehicles and the communications between them to be tested in the laboratory in a precise and repeatable way. This enables the correct operation of C-V2X applications such as emergency brake warning in realistic and demanding traffic scenarios to be verified in the laboratory. Jointly with Audi, the laboratory solution was extended for use at the proving ground. This enabled the verification of several scenarios with one single physical vehicle and many simulated vehicles emulated by the Rohde & Schwarz test equipment.

The key benefits of this approach are the use of the same test equipment in both locations and reducing the number of vehicles required for the proving ground. This test approach allowed Audi to perform various load tests and corner-case scenarios using test vehicles and simulated vehicles together at the proving ground. The high level of cooperation between the teams facilitated co-development of this C-V2X test setup, helping to reduce time to market and saving capital expenditure.

The system comprises an R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester, an R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator (laboratory only), the Vector CANoe Car2x software, an R&S BBA150 amplifier, and an R&S HF918 antenna with a tripod and adapter. This system is easily capable of generating signals with up to 33 dBm of output power, which is required for emergency vehicles in certain markets. Synchronization of the simulated vehicles and the test vehicle at the proving ground with real GNSS sources allows verification of complex traffic scenarios in real time.

About the Author

David Maliniak | Executive Editor, Microwaves & RF

I am Executive Editor of Microwaves & RF, an all-digital publication that broadly covers all aspects of wireless communications. More particularly, we're keeping a close eye on technologies in the consumer-oriented 5G, 6G, IoT, M2M, and V2X markets, in which much of the wireless market's growth will occur in this decade and beyond. I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, developers, and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.

You can send press releases for new products for possible coverage on the website. I am also interested in receiving contributed articles for publishing on our website. Use our contributor's packet, in which you'll find an article template and lots more useful information on how to properly prepare content for us, and send to me along with a signed release form.

About me:

In his long career in the B2B electronics-industry media, David Maliniak has held editorial roles as both generalist and specialist. As Components Editor and, later, as Editor in Chief of EE Product News, David gained breadth of experience in covering the industry at large. In serving as EDA/Test and Measurement Technology Editor at Electronic Design, he developed deep insight into those complex areas of technology. Most recently, David worked in technical marketing communications at Teledyne LeCroy, leaving to rejoin the EOEM B2B publishing world in January 2020. David earned a B.A. in journalism at New York University.