5G mmWave Positioning for Vehicular Networks

TLDR

5G technologies provide high‑data‑rate connectivity to vehicles, complementing existing IEEE 802.11p inter‑vehicle communication standards. The article investigates whether 5G signal characteristics can improve vehicle positioning. It reviews cellular positioning evolution and analyzes 5G properties relevant to vehicular positioning. The study shows that 5G can complement existing positioning systems for automated driving and identifies open research challenges.

Abstract

5G technologies present a new paradigm to provide connectivity to vehicles, in support of high data-rate services, complementing existing inter-vehicle communication standards based on IEEE 802.11p. As we argue, the specific signal characteristics of 5G communication turn out to be highly conducive for vehicle positioning. Hence, 5G can work in synergy with existing on-vehicle positioning and mapping systems to provide redundancy for certain applications, in particular automated driving. This article provides an overview of the evolution of cellular positioning and discusses the key properties of 5G as they relate to vehicular positioning. Open research challenges are presented.