South Korean telecom operator LG Uplus and the Automotive Control and Electronic Lab (ACE Lab) of Hanyang College have successfully tested their 5G-connected self-driving car on the roads of Seoul.

Known as the A1, the autonomous vehicle drove 8km in 25 minutes. During the trial, the self-driving car used LG Uplus’s high-speed, low-latency 5G connectivity to safely move ahead to congested traffic in Seoul.

The car followed speed limits during the test, successfully changing lanes and reacting to other vehicles moving through traffic.

It is equipped with Level 4 self-driving technology, which allows hands-off driving for a longer duration.

A1’s artificial intelligence system evaluated traffic information collected by cameras and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors on the vehicle.

After analysing the data, the car made its own decisions, including adjusting the speed, changing lanes and responding to cars that were coming into its path.

“5G-enabled autonomous vehicles can help alleviate traffic jams and prevent accidents.”

In order to gain real-time information, the vehicle used 5G and quickly changed its position after detecting a collision between cars ahead. The entire movement of the car telecasted live to the university.

ACE Lab director was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as saying: “5G-enabled autonomous vehicles can help alleviate traffic jams and prevent accidents.

“Our final goal is aimed at significantly reducing human errors and improving safety on roads.”

LG Uplus future and converted division senior vice president Lee Sang-min told the publication: “5G network’s low latency is considered a key factor that improves the safety of autonomous vehicles.

“The test drive was meaningful, allowing the autonomous vehicle to show its advanced capabilities in a challenging road environment.”

In 2017, a self-driving car of ACE Lab drove itself on highways from Seoul to Busan in a six-hour journey on a 420km route.