How is technology from space empowering a better world? What are the incredible innovations we can expect in the future? In this episode of the “In-Orbit” podcast by ERTICO’s Partner Satellite Applications Catapult, speakers talk about the possibilities for 5G and what the technology would enable us to do in different sectors such as in the area of autonomous vehicles.
Johanna Tzanidaki, Director of Innovation and Deployment, and Nikolaos Tsampieris, Senior Manager, Expert in 5G & Connected Vehicles, together with Kieran Arnold, Director of Ubiquitous Connectivity, and Ashweeni Beeharee, Head of Communication Systems Engineering at Satellite Applications Catapult, talk about the possibilities for Ubiquitous Connectivity – where people and devices have consistent and uninterrupted access to the internet and to others.
We are now more connected than any time before, 5G is set to improve our daily connectivity and it represents a huge asset to the transport industry. But like all tech advances, especially those with the potential to shake things up, taking the time to get it right is crucial. For example, in a future where autonomous vehicles have the potential to become commonplace, we need to be confident that issues such as moving across country borders where they will switch from one terrestrial network to another, do not result in incidents like collisions.
Connectivity is the most important aspect for safety; “in the EU, when you are passing from one country to the other, you very rarely meet a physical border but these invisible borders do not have connectivity which is essential to safety. In the future, a gradual improvement of systems, technology, and functionalities will play an important role in the cooperative, connected and automated mobility (CCAM) for the full take up of autonomous cars. However, we should not forget business cases and user acceptance as key part of the picture”, says Johanna Tzanidaki.
