5G’s inception in the world of technology has created a very promising effect on consumers and is making lives easier to a greater extent. Not only our homes and offices are getting enhanced by this technology, but it is also playing a massive role in providing convenient ways to the consumers to commute in a better way, i.e., it is also influencing transportation and logistics systems. Hence, it is astonishing to see that 5G has turned this fantasy into a reality that was previously considered as a science fiction thing that we often see in movies or TV.
Moreover, the developed countries’ vehicle manufacturers are already involving the 5G companies and networks to improve the overall transportation and logistics system of the country. This system includes the safety and reliability of the vehicles, roads, and consumers, reducing traffic congestion, decreasing commute times, routes optimization, along with helping pedestrians in the best possible ways.
How 5G Is Transforming Transportation?
5G networks are shaping and transforming the transportation industry by creating an optimized connection of communication between all the road users such as vehicles, pedestrians, and the transportation infrastructure. The low-latency characteristic of 5G enables the vehicles to exchange small packets of data with each other without any delays.
Along with that, 5G fibre optic networks have also impacted the transportation industry massively through the fibre cable’s special characteristics of providing faster data transmissions over long distances. By utilizing its low latency, reliable transmissions, and powerful connections, the transportation system of a country can be greatly optimized to provide ease and convenience to the consumers. Some of the major car brands will soon announce the release of 5G-enabled autonomous vehicles, consisting of all the smart features and benefits it needs to thrive in the 5G world.
Here we have listed some of the major parts of a transportation system that are greatly impacted due to the emergence of 5G:
Efficient Traffic Flow:
One of the most important aspects of transportation which is providing benefits to the consumers because of 5G networks is the control of traffic flow. The communication between vehicles and infrastructures are divided into “Vehicle-to-Infrastructure” and “Vehicle-to-Vehicle” modules. Both these smart traffic modules play effective parts in detecting whenever a vehicle is approaching along with maximizing the road space for smooth traffic flow. This is done by incorporating several sensors, cameras, and real-time traffic patterns in the system to monitor the flow of traffic.
Autonomous Vehicles:
Because of 5G, the manufacturing of autonomous vehicles is currently on the rise. Since these vehicles work on high-speed data processing systems along with other smart features, that is why a faster network like 5G is the most suitable choice of operation for such vehicles.
Autonomous vehicles such as driverless or self-driving cars contain such features that they can easily communicate with the traffic infrastructure and can automatically alert the vehicle in advance before any issue related to road or traffic arises.
Furthermore, several renowned companies are working on the development of such chips that can transform autonomous vehicles into mobile data centres, to ease the complex and real-time data operations.
Improved Safety and Reliability:
Making sure of the safety of road users and vehicles is always the priority of any traffic system that exists. But doing this with the help of 5G companies and networks creates an interconnected link between the pedestrians, cyclists, and all the other road users. This system enables the cars to stop at traffic signals automatically, while already alerting the pedestrians if a car is rushing towards them at a dangerous speed.
You can also save yourself from the adverse road and traffic conditions and reroute your map in the 5G-enabled transportation system. This can be done by staying alert of all the unsafe possibilities taken from the real-time notifications. The formation of “mini-clouds” on the highway is also an effective form of communication between the vehicles to maintain the required space for the smooth flow of traffic.
With the help of 5G based transportation system, vehicles can also stay updated with all the road weather conditions such as snow build-up, fallen trees, manholes, etc. Drivers can easily reroute their trips if they get any notifications of any such conditions on the road. Additionally, the 5G fibre optic network’s higher bandwidth and lower latency allow the vehicles to interconnect with each other effectively as well as with the streetlight-mounted cameras. So, the system will automatically be notified if the vehicle has to stop or if there is a signal of red light and vice versa.
Most importantly, it is observed that a smart transportation system plays a big part in reducing accidents. The data generated through these 5G-enabled systems are sent to the drivers and the other road users automatically to speed up the data transmission between them, and to make the system more safe and reliable.
Reduction In Commute Times:
The best thing 5G is bringing a change about is reducing the daily commute timings to reach the offices. The obsolete traffic light systems contain old technology lights that work on outdated systems and usually slow down the traffic flow. It also causes the wastage of fuel when a vehicle is stopped unnecessarily on traffic signals for longer periods.
With 5G technology, the traffic system along with all the other aspects of transportation works on real-time data and hence you can observe cameras, sensors, and smart traffic light systems installed where the 5G-enabled system is followed. Because of this system, the responsiveness of the traffic lights to the traffic increases, and thus it allows a proper flow of traffic without any unnecessary delays and hassles.
Conclusion:
From smart homes to offices, smart cars, and transportation systems, 5G is creating an instant impact in every industry it has started working in. Particularly, the transportation systems in smart cities enabled with 5G networks are serving the consumers in the best possible ways by providing them with ease in traffic flows, reducing commute times, smart traffic management systems, safety and reliability, and several new autonomous models of vehicles.