Continental and Vodafone Join Forces for Road Safety

Continental and Vodafone Join Forces for Road Safety; Continental, one of the world's largest international tire and original equipment suppliers, has signed a successful cooperation with the telecommunication giant Vodafone. Announcing the first results of their innovation partnership at the 2019 Mobile World Congress (MWC), the two companies showed how thousands of traffic accidents could be prevented each year thanks to new communication technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and Mobile Edge Computing (mobile edge computing). The system, which protects and increases road safety and acts as a digital shield, is scheduled to go into mass production at the beginning of 2020.

Continental and Vodafone shared the first fruits of their innovative collaborations with the public at the 2019 Mobile World Congress (MWC) held in Barcelona, ​​Spain. The two companies, which announced last year that they will work together to improve road safety; With cutting-edge communication technologies such as 5G, (C-V2X) technology and Mobile Edge Computing (mobile edge computing), it will help better protect everyone in traffic. 5G technology ready tests are conducted under real conditions at Vodafone's 5G Mobility Lab in Aldenhoven, Germany. At the beginning of 2020, it is planned to start mass production based on these technologies.

Although traffic casualties have decreased over the years as a result of better safety and support systems, the number of traffic accidents is increasing. Vulnerable people in traffic are most affected by this situation. For example, according to data from the German Federal Statistical Office in 2017, about a quarter of those who lost their lives in traffic accidents are cyclists and pedestrians. In the same year, more than 30 cyclists lost their lives because of turning trucks and buses.

Johann Hiebl, Head of Continental Chassis and Safety and Infotainment and Connectivity Group, “We work nonstop every day to reduce the risks that vulnerable people in traffic may face” says. “To this end, we ensure that vehicles connect with each other and with their environment in the best possible way. 5G, C-V2X, Mobile Edge Computing (mobile edge computing) Communication technologies such as these enable many people in traffic to communicate with each other at the same time, bringing us closer to our goal. Together with Vodafone, we can revolutionize road safety.”

Vodafone Germany CEO Hannes Ametsreiter, “We are getting closer and closer to realizing our vision of a world free of traffic deaths, accidents and congestion. After successful tests with our partner Continental, we can see cars on our streets that offer greater safety to everyone in traffic from the beginning of the 2020s. Automobiles are real through mobile communication. zamThey will become wheeled smartphones with sensors and cameras that communicate in real-time, alerting and protecting us from dangers.”says.

5G & Co. offers brand new opportunities to prevent accidents

Providing up to 10 gigabytes of bandwidth per second, 5G is true zamIt allows applications such as instant video broadcasting. C-V2X mobile communication technology harnesses the full potential of connected and smart mobility by combining direct and networked communication between vehicles, infrastructure and the vulnerable in traffic.

One of the application scenarios investigated by Vodafone and Continental is the digital security shield. Cyclists and pedestrians on the road are smart phones; cars get a communication module, a special V2X module. These people can share their location and navigational directions via the mobile network base station. The system issues a warning when it detects that the roads are crossing dangerously. The system can also protect cyclists from dangerous accidents that occur as a result of turning vehicles on their roads.

In addition, cameras placed in the vehicle and network-side AI Mobile Edge Computing (mobile border computing) recognize the behavior of pedestrians and cyclists, providing more protection for them. These technologies can detect, for example, a child suddenly running into the road after the ball or a person lying on the street. However, for the data produced, it is not just smart evaluation but the same zamAt the same time, data transfer is required at the speed of light in the millisecond range. This calculation is made possible by the combination of 5G technology and Mobile Edge Computing (mobile edge computing). Small 5G data centers with very short access times close to base stations can enable near real analysis with the help of artificial intelligence. zamallows it to be done instantly. If the situation is really dangerous, a warning is sent to the detected vehicle and other people in the vicinity.

Mobile Edge Computing also relieves the computational load of the vehicle and high-end data centers. In this way, there is no need for expensive circuits in vehicles. Hieble, “We tested this system in the 5G Mobility Lab and the results are promising”says.

View from the vehicle in front

In addition, tests confirm that new communication technologies can be used to create visual barriers to traffic. The system uses camera images from one of the vehicles in front to warn vehicles behind of oncoming traffic, for example, before overtaking on rural roads.

Another application offered by Continental and Vodafone in Barcelona is the traffic jam warning system. Vehicles approaching the end of the congested traffic are notified of obstacles long before they reach there. In this way, the speed can be reduced in a shorter time and dangerous emergency braking can be prevented.

Most of these functions tested by Vodafone and Continental can be implemented immediately with the existing LTE network providing higher data transfer rates over the planned coverage area. Talking about LTE Advanced or 4.5G, developers call their solution "5G technology ready". LTE and 5G technologies will be critical among vehicles in the future zamwill complement each other in the best possible way in traffic to ensure instant communication.

About Continental:

Continental develops leading technologies and services for the sustainable and connected mobility of people and their products. technology company founded in 1871; offers safe, efficient, smart and economical solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. Realizing a turnover of 2018 billion Euros in 44,4, Continental employs more than 61 thousand employees in 244 countries.

About the tire part:

Continental Tire Division has 24 production and development centers worldwide. One of the leading tire manufacturers with approximately 54 thousand employees, this division achieved sales of 2017 billion Euros in 11,3. Continental is among the technology leaders in tire manufacturing and offers a wide range of products for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles. Thanks to the continuous investment in R&D, Continental; It makes a major contribution to safe, cost-effective and ecologically efficient mobility. The tire division's portfolio includes services for the tire trade and fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for commercial vehicle tires.

Automobile and Commercial Tire section

As one of the largest manufacturers of trucks, buses and industrial tires worldwide, Continental operates with a wide range of products, services and solutions that are constantly evolving and growing.