Spark and Ohmio testing 5G-connected driverless car in New Zealand

Telecom operator Spark New Zealand’s collaboration with autonomous vehicle technology firm Ohmio Automotion has started trialling a 5G-connected driverless car on streets in Auckland.

The self-driving car is being tested in a controlled area at Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter Innovation Precinct. It uses Spark’s pre-commercial 5G network available as part of its innovation lab.

Developed by Ohmio Automation, the car can accommodate up to four passengers and can run at a speed of 25km/h. However, its speed has been capped at 7km/h during the tests.

Ohmio research and development head Dr Mahmood Hikmet said: “We believe this test with Spark is only the second of its type in the world. Today has demonstrated some of the exciting opportunities 5G will enable for our autonomous car technology.

“A 5G network can be up to 100x faster than 4G, which unlocks the true potential for autonomous driving, as messages need to be transmitted and decisions made in real-time.

“A significant drop in latency, or the reaction time when one device talks to another – will give cars human-like reflexes and opens up multiple possibilities for connected infrastructure and a smart city ecosystem.”

Using a tablet, passengers can call and board the self-driving car. Inside, a dashboard informs the riders about objects being monitored by its LiDAR technology in real-time.

Ohmio is considering launching more self-driving cars in closed facilities such as airports, university campuses, retirement villages and hospitals across New Zealand.

Upon securing on-road certification, Ohmio plans to deploy autonomous cars on public streets alongside regular vehicles.