Spirent Developing V2X Testing for Cohda’s Wireless Modules

Nathan Eddy

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11th May 2018

Satellite navigation testing specialist Spirent announced this week that it would supply vehicle communications firm Cohda’s WAVE-DSRC modules with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) testing software.

Cohda’s on-board and outdoor communications hardware, which are based on wireless access in vehicular environments (WAVE) standards, also supports dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) IEEE 802.11p, 5G networks and WiFi standards.

The technology involved in V2V communication, as well as vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) — collectively known as V2X — allows cars communicate with each other or with fixed roadside infrastructure, as well as pedestrians and cyclists.

Spirent has developed a number of radio frequency (RF) and wireless testing solutions, for guiding the design and implementation of V2V and V2X communications services.

Additionally, Cohda is participating in the OmniAir Motor City Plugfest this week where Spirent is providing WAVE-DSRC V2X testing at five different stations. The show is also where V2X vendors can prep for OmniAir certification and to improve product quality.

The OmniAir Consortium, a nonprofit association comprising Panasonic, Qualcomm, BlackBerry and others, promotes interoperability and certification for connected vehicles.

Spirent itself successfully completed the qualification process for OmniAir qualified test equipment for WAVE-DSRC compliance certification in October.

In its announcement, Spirent said that it would focus on functional and performance requirements during the Detroit Plugfest, which include security and mobility features known to be potential sources of interoperability and safety issues for V2X technology.

“We are proud to support Cohda’s efforts for the conformance testing of its MK5 V2X device with the goal of successfully completing OmniAir’s certification program,” Spirent’s director of automotive engineering wrote in a statement. “We are fully committed to continuing this cooperation as part of our on-going support for V2X technology deployment.”

The company has already created a range of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) threat scenarios that can be used to test how a receiver would respond and used to provide insight into likely risks caused by GPS interference, spoofing, atmospheric scintillation, segment errors and exceptional events.

In a recent company white paper Spirent outlined several hurdles to V2X communication, including the integration of disparate operating systems, stringent security and safety requirements, rapidly changing market conditions and “sheer technical complexity.”

Earlier this month the company announced it had received funding from Innovate UK to help research sensor fusion, and will be working with project partners WMG, University of Warwick and Chronos Technology on the project, which will last 18 months.

The Enhanced Assured Location Simulator Leveraging WiFi and GNSS Sensor Fusion (ELWAG) project will develop better testing to assure position accuracy.

The aim is to develop RF modeling techniques so GNSS and WiFi signals can be simulated in a development lab with sufficient quality to assure manufacturers that the results are accurate.

The conclusion of a 2016 US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) document recommended mandatory V2V Communication on light vehicles to help avoid potentially deadly crashes.