Ericsson files to conduct autonomous driver demo at CES 2019

Ericsson filed an application with the FCC to conduct an autonomous driver demo at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The show begins Jan. 8 and ends Jan. 11, but Ericsson is asking for the Special Temporary Authority (STA) to start on Dec. 17 in order to conduct pre-show set-up and testing. Equipment from Ericsson, Huawei and Galtronics will be used, as well as an iPhone 8s.

“The planned operation will demonstrate various use cases in the Autonomous Driver Assistance System/Autonomous Drive area at CES 2019,” the application states.

The proposal calls for using the 3400-3600 MHz frequency range.

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Autonomous vehicles are nothing new to Ericsson, which has been working in the space for years. The vendor recently announced it’s working with Telia and Einride in Sweden to create a more sustainable transport ecosystem by connecting electric, autonomous vehicles, with 5G being a key enabler to safely introduce autonomous trucks onto public roads.

In fact, Ericsson’s 5G technology is making it possible for the installation of Einride’s autonomous electric transportation (AET) system, which is said to be the first commercial application of its all-electric vehicles in the world, at a DB Schenker facility in Jönköping, central Sweden, beginning this fall.

Einride says 5G provides the connectivity and reliability needed to safely introduce its T-pod on public roads, paving the way for a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions and an elimination of NOx emissions. The T-pod is a new type of vehicle that has no driver in it.

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The all-electric, autonomous transport system that the T-pod is part of could potentially replace more than 60% of today’s transport with a cost competitive and sustainable alternative, according to Einride.  

The autonomous vehicle space is likely to be another big theme at the CES show. A CES website invites attendees to “explore the road to driverless mobility through ride-and-drive experiences” and “test drive a variety of technologies that support the future of self-driving cars, including parking assist, collision avoidance, emergency braking and much more.”