The Ricardo Valle Institute of Innovation Foundation (Innova IRV) has supported the launch of the 5GVEC project, which aims to develop 5G-based technological solutions for the deployment of connected vehicles, as well as the validation of use cases. The multinational DEKRA will lead the project with the collaboration of Ericsson, Tinámica, Tupl, Softcrits, Premo and Top Digital. Innova IRV has provided technical assistance for the project, which began to be developed at the end of 2022 and will continue to be implemented until 2025.
The 5GVEC project, which has received €2.2 million from the Programa Único Sectorial 2022, within the framework of the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, will involve an investment of more than €4.6 million. This funding was granted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation. To this end, the project was submitted to the 5G Sectorial call, organised by the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures, and financed by the Next Generation EU Recovery Plan.
Connected driving and 5G are becoming increasingly relevant nowadays. Therefore, the 5GVEC project will support the implementation and validation of these technologies in order to contribute to solving the challenges of new mobility, so that it is safer, more efficient and sustainable. The project members will apply methods to validate use cases of connected and autonomous vehicles using 5G technology, according to international benchmark standards for connected mobility.
Cooperation between companies
DEKRA’s role in the 5GVEC project is to lead it and to develop the methodology and test tools according to benchmark standards and organisations of 5G and connected and automated driving, in order to accelerate the access of these technologies to the market while ensuring compliance standards, interoperability and product quality.
On the other hand, Ericsson, in cooperation with the department of Communications Engineering of the University of Málaga, will be in charge of adapting the 5G radio access network configuration to the project’s needs, carrying out research to develop algorithms for parameter optimisation regarding network latency and network segmentation based on artificial intelligence. These algorithms will be the gears of new tools that will independently guarantee the quality of service in networking that is required in the connected vehicle industry.
Tinámica, as a company specialised in AI, will develop a smart charging/discharging decision-making system for electric vehicles (EV). The goal is to optimise the balance between the battery life and the income (savings) resulting from using it as a battery source. The decision-making system is based on multiple AI models applied to prediction, optimisation and reinforcement learning. The role of 5G is essential to ensure communication with bidirectional EV chargers. That is why Tinámica is collaborating with the University of Málaga to test 5G communication protocols with chargers.
TUPL will be in charge of providing an Artificial Intelligence platform for the integration and processing of the different data sources, on which use cases of connected vehicles can be created, enabling the creation of an application development ecosystem for third parties. To test the methodology, the company will create a use case of computer vision for detecting vehicles trajectory with cameras connected to a 5G network.
SOFTCRITS will develop a software for the automatization of autonomous vehicle paths using 5G technology. These autonomous driving technologies will be tested in specially designed circuits. The activity is based on the use of a vehicle capable of tracing its own trajectories, and it must be equipped with different sensors and communication systems to be able to react to the environment and be operated remotely.
PREMO, international leader in the development, manufacturing and sale of electronic components, and with the collaboration of the department of Systems Engineering and Automation of the University of Málaga, will carry out the development of an automated guided vehicle (AGV) using a robot arm for intralogistics tasks and 5G technology. This application, in the context of Industry 4.0, will optimise and automate flows of materials between warehouses and production areas, complying with safety requirements and achieving a significant improvement in efficiency.
TOPDIGITAL will integrate the different sub-systems of 5GVEC, as well as third-party platforms and applications with the aim of developing an end-user oriented software, creating services such as parking platforms, booking service and payment and integration platforms with Open data models. This software will be developed to create a user app, based on optimising the user experience and the integration of heterogeneous service models, implementing digital privacy protection policies.
About DEKRA
DEKRA has been operating in the field of safety for almost 100 years. It was founded in 1925 in Berlin as Deutscher Kraftfahrzeug-Überwachungs-Verein e.V., and it is one of the world’s leading expert organisations today. DEKRA SE is a subsidiary of DEKRA e.V. and manages the Group’s business operation. In 2021, DEKRA generated more than 3.5 billion euros in sales and it currently employs almost 48,000 people in around 60 countries from all continents. With qualified and independent expert services, DEKRA works for safety on the road, at work and at home. These services range from vehicle inspections and expert reports to claims services, industrial and building inspections, safety consultancy, testing and certification of products and systems, as well as training courses and temporary work. The vision for the company’s 100th anniversary in 2025 is for DEKRA to be the global partner for a safe and sustainable world. With a platinum rating from EcoVadis, DEKRA is now in the top one percent of rated sustainable companies.
