Autonomous automotive technology has been around in some form since the 1950s, but it is still struggling to become a practical, trusted technology on today’s roads. A recent study from Mobile Experts LLC examines the facts and rumors in the automotive IoT space, particularly in regards to connectivity.
One limitation is the Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Service, roadside or on-board communication units licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. The wireless industry and the automotive industry are clashing a bit over the use of vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
Currently, the 5.9 GHz band is set aside for intelligent automotive navigation, but there’s some debate on how exactly it should be used. Companies like Qualcomm and Cisco, which make chips and networking equipment, respectively, for the wireless industry, want to be able to use the 5.9 GHz band for unlicensed uses, including wi-fi. This would allow them to combine 5.9 with 5.8 GHz, one of the bands which is currently used for wi-fi, and could therefore help them handle more traffic. On the other hand, the auto industry wants to reserve the band for DSRC. The Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Transportation will make the ultimate decision, so both groups are making their voices heard on the political scene.
Wireless IoT modules are predicted to become only more widespread in the next five years. The report says the number will grow from 200 million in 2015 to 600 million in 2021, with multiple radios used in each car. The semiconductor industry for automotive is expected to grow to $10.9 billion in 2021, up from $6 billion in 2016.
The report details the way vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure, and DSRC are used in automotive applications, including the current market, government policy, and predictions.
Filed Under: M2M (machine to machine)
