How Wireless 5G Terminals Promote the Development of Autonomous Driving

Autonomous driving is currently developing rapidly. Although there are inevitable challenges to meet, 5G technology provides wireless terminals with higher data transmission rates and lower latency, which is crucial for autonomous driving systems.

Challenges

• Low latency requirements: Autonomous vehicles must react to sudden obstacles (e.g., a pedestrian darting into the road) in milliseconds. Even a 100-millisecond delay could lead to accidents, making traditional network latency (often 50-200 milliseconds) a fatal flaw.
• Massive data processing: A single autonomous vehicle generates terabytes of data daily via LiDAR, cameras, and radars. Transmitting, analyzing, and acting on this data—such as 4K real-time video or 3D environmental models—requires bandwidth far beyond what 4G or LTE can provide.
• Dynamic collaboration needs: For scenarios like platooning, intersection collision avoidance, or remote control, vehicles must communicate with each other, infrastructure, and the cloud in real time. Unstable connections or inconsistent data sharing can break this collaborative loop.

The Transformative Role of 5G Terminals

• Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (uRLLC): In autonomous driving applications, communication latency must be as low as 1 millisecond to ensure real-time response and safety.
• High Data Rates: 5G supports up to 10 times higher downlink and uplink data rates than LTE-A, enabling autonomous vehicles to process and transmit large amounts of data, such as high-definition maps and sensor data, in real time.
• Network Slicing: 5G networks can create multiple virtual networks through network slicing technology to meet the needs of different applications. This flexibility enables autonomous vehicles to maintain efficient communication in diverse environments.

Real-world Use Cases

• Tele-operated Driving in complex environments: Through 5G networks, remote operators can control autonomous vehicles in real time, especially in complex or dangerous environments. For instance, in Australian mines, 5G-connected trucks operate 24/7 with near-zero latency, reducing human exposure to danger while boosting efficiency.
• High-precision map updates: Autonomous vehicles rely on centimeter-level maps, but road changes (e.g., construction zones) must be synced instantly. 5G terminals allow vehicles to upload real-time observations to the cloud, which then pushes updates to nearby cars—ensuring navigation accuracy, as demonstrated in trials by European automakers.
• Anticipated Cooperative Collision Avoidance: In city tests, 5G-equipped vehicles share data to predict potential collisions at intersections. When a vehicle detects a red-light runner, it alerts others via 5G, enabling coordinated braking or swerving—reducing accident risks by over 60% in early results.

Wireless 5G terminals are not just "enablers" but "accelerators" of autonomous driving. By solving critical communication challenges, they pave the way for safer, more efficient, and fully connected autonomous systems—turning the vision of self-driving mobility into a tangible reality. Looking ahead, as 5G technology continues to evolve and terminal capabilities deepen, autonomous driving will achieve greater breakthroughs in safety, efficiency, and intelligence.

For more details, explore our full range of certified industrial terminals and solutions at https://www.smawave.com/contact-us.