Sprint opened a 5G test bed last week and Verizon is working with Mcity at the University of Michigan to advance transportation safety and shape the future of autonomous vehicles and smart cities using 5G. The Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband network is now live at the Mcity Test Facility where the carrier is testing various 5G solutions designed to boost pedestrian safety and avoid car accidents. This includes installing 5G-connected cameras at every intersection inside the Mcity test track to help identify traffic and pedestrian patterns to prevent collisions.
Several key components of 5G service — high bandwidth, low latency and the ability to connect hundreds of devices in a relatively small area — make the safety boost possible, according to Verizon. If each vehicle passing through an intersection is able to relay and receive information from other vehicles and streetlight cameras, that information can be used to notify cars when lights turn red or vehicles ahead come to a sudden stop. Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network is able to quickly transmit that data, enabling autonomous vehicles to react faster than humans when it comes to braking to avoid a collision.
Sprint, meanwhile, anchored the opening of Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners – a 5G-powered smart city technology proving ground – on September 11, in the City of Peachtree Corners, GA. The living laboratory includes a 1.5-mile autonomous test track located within an existing 500-acre technology park. The lab enables companies to develop and test emerging technologies with live city infrastructure, next-generation connectivity and the most real-world conditions possible.
“We are honored to work with the city of Peachtree Corners to help enable new technologies Curiosity™ IoT and True Mobile 5G, Sprint is bringing together companies – both big and small – to develop and test future-forward technology in one space, sparking innovation and creativity before,” said Jan Geldmacher, president, Sprint Business. “From enabling the most accurate r navigation possible to delivering immediate intelligence from IoT connections, companies can better test, and ultimately scale new solutions for the smart city landscapes of tomorrow.”
Other emerging technologies that will be part of the Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners include:
- Georgia Power: smart light poles
- Local Motors: “Olli” autonomous passenger shuttle
- CloudMinds: Human-like service robot using AI in the cloud, as well as virtual aviator for retail and hospitality environments
- Softbank Robotics: “Little” autonomous floor cleaner
- Autonodyne: autonomous drone, Valqari drone, and “Mailbox” landing pad
- Reef Kitchens: Delivery-Only Kitchen Solution
- Kia: autonomous vehicle
September 16, 2019
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