Millbrook consortium develops 5G test bed for driverless cars

5G technology, which will be introduced in the UK during the course of 2019, will be much faster than existing mobile networks, with some experts claiming that it will ultimately be capable of speeds of upto 10 GB/s – around 100 time faster than 4G technology.

The technology is expected to have a transformative impact across a number of sectors not least automotive where the ability to rapidly transmit large amounts of data could improve safety, and help usher in the next generation of connected and autonomous vehicles which is a key aim of the so-called AutoAir 5G project.

The partners working on the project include Dense Air, Airspan Networks, Millbrook, Blu Wireless, Real Wireless, the University of Surrey’s 5G Innovation Centre, McLaren, Atkins and O2, which is providing the 5G network.

Earlier this year, the consortium carried out a series of tests at Millbrook that saw a McLaren sports car receive and send data at 1 Gbit/s whilst driving round the site at 160 Mph, and real-time UltraHD 4K video sharing between a network of moving vehicles.