Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Platform Gen 2
As seen at CES and many other technology events, the automotive sector has become a platform of attraction for new cutting-edge technologies. As the segment transitions to electric vehicles (EV) and autonomous vehicles (AV), it takes advantage of the latest technologies in connectivity, display, graphics, networking, processing, sensors, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AL/ML). As a result, technology companies are pushing the boundaries of innovation. Qualcomm has just taken another major step in automotive connectivity innovation with the introduction of a new Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 platform that brings living room-grade broadband into the car.
At CES in January, Qualcomm gave an impressive demonstration of its Digital Chassis platform in the form of a bespoke car. The working prototype EV/AV car leveraged Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), cockpit, connectivity, and digital chassis software technologies, all integrated into an attractive, high-performance passenger vehicle. At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Qualcomm took a major step forward in automotive connectivity technology with the new Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 platform. Delivering increased processing power and system capacity (double that of the previous generation), this latest automatic RF-modem platform will support safer and more connected in-vehicle experiences through lower latency for streaming content to multiple devices simultaneously, precise positioning, autonomous driving and more . . Drivers and passengers will have the opportunity to have a more personalized environment and experience with platform support for connected services and applications.
Much like Qualcomm’s industry-leading connectivity solutions for smartphones and mobile devices, the new auto-modem-RF platform brings some of the latest connectivity technologies to meet telematics and C-V2X (Cellular Vehicle Anywhere). , including other vehicles, pedestrians and road infrastructure) to the requirements of the automotive segment.
Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 Platform Block Diagram
This new modem is compatible with the 3GPP Release 16 specification with some slight differences that are more in line with automotive OEM requirements. The modem supports some of the functions included in versions 17 (frozen in 2022) and 18 (planned in 2024). In this regard, Qualcomm’s latest auto-modem RF platform offers an aggregate sub-6 GHz bandwidth of 200 MHz combined with multi-gigabit Ethernet support over vehicle networks. This essentially brings the equivalent of home broadband into the car, which is essential both for the real-time updates that will be needed for AVs and the advanced gaming and occupant entertainment systems that are in progress. of development.
Unlike other Qualcomm 5G platforms, the Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 platform will not support mmWave. But it is not a technology currently required by automotive OEMs. However, the automatic modem-RF platform is based on the latest modem and RF technology and mmWave may be supported in future revisions. This new platform does, however, support satellite communications, referred to as non-terrestrial (NTN), to help ensure that connectivity is available everywhere for applications that use two-way messaging.
The new modem chipset also offers more processing performance with a quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 processor cluster, rather than the previous generation single-core processor. The reason for this is to allow more processing directly on the connectivity chipset, rather than requiring an external applications processor. This not only allows superior functional processing of modem and network processing, but also provides the ability to run OEM or 3rdthird-party operating systems and applications on the modem’s chipset. These applications are seen as an essential element for the monetization of future transport platforms. The auto-modem-RF platform also includes a V2X-optimized processing core for CV2X processing requirements.
Qualcomm completes car-to-cloud services and software stack
The auto-modem-RF platform is also supported by the comprehensive Qualcomm Telematics Application Framework (TelAF), reducing platform development time and Qualcomm’s Car-to-Cloud service, a infrastructure for over-the-air software updates and on-demand services.
It’s the 2n/a 5G generation chipset and the 8e generation connectivity chipset that Qualcomm has developed for the automotive segment, which it pioneered starting with 3G technology. The Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 platform brings more processing, networking, and connectivity performance into a smaller, more power-efficient form factor, all of which are key requirements for the automotive segment. It is also a key stepping stone to future automotive platforms or what I like to call “the living car”, a vehicle with all the technological conveniences you would expect in your home or office for work and play.
Transformation to the digital car