TOKYO: SoftBank and Honda R&D have begun discussions into starting a joint research project to strengthen connected car technologies that involves internet connectivity and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication.
The joint project will look towards offering users new experiences and value by connecting mobility products, primarily cars, and various other items.
The two companies will pursue this joint research with a view of future adoption of fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system standards.
In the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2018, SoftBank will install experiential 5G base stations at Honda R&D’s Takasu Proving Ground (in Takasu-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan), and the two companies will start full-fledged joint research under the 5G environment.
The two companies will create a 5G environment by utilizing Honda’s closed test course (Takasu Proving Ground) and work to develop High-speed handover technology.
This looks to the development of technologies and on-board antennas which will enable a stable handover of base stations for communication by a vehicle moving at high-speed.
Furthermore, Recovery technologies will also be looked into to help secure data sending/receiving performance for areas with weak or out-of-range signals.
Lastly, both data processing technologies and further technological developments for various other usages will be dabbled in.
