How HARMAN Savari MECWAVE Edge Computing Connects V2V, 5G, Smart Cities and Safety

After HARMAN acquired Savari, the company has created a whole ecosystem for smart cities and enhanced vehicle-to-everything communication. Today, the company introduces HARMAN Savari MECWAVE, a multi-access edge compute (MEC) platform that enables ultra-low latency applications and services.

Roger Jollis, VP, Product Management, Telematics at HARMAN explains some use cases and the future of V2X with HARMAN Savari solutions. He also reveals a new way for wireless carriers to expand their 5G networks via roadside units.

“We have been in the V2X space for years through telematics. We wanted to expand beyond the telematics box and connect to infrastructure. We expanded beyond the car through the Savari acquisition. Savari has been innovating in the roadside unit space. We are now working with them on edge computing infrastructure,” says Jollis.

HARMAN Savari MobiWAVE provides the telematics functions for V2X (vehicle-to-everything), DSRC and C-V2X in vehicles. HARMAN StreetWAVE RSUs (roadside units) can provide better data, connect to the Internet, smart cities and infrastructure.

The new part of the entire ecosystem is the HARMAN Savari MECWAVE software platform for edge computing that reduces latency and enables new use cases and functionality.

For example, there is a traffic jam. Through edge computing, it can be determined that there is a traffic jam. Then the information can be sent to all the road users affected, he says.

Jollis notes that the HARMAN Savari MEC stands for multi-access edge computing. Wireless carriers may use the term MEC for mobile edge computing. The HARMAN Savari’s out-of-the-box, end-to-end virtualized infrastructure solution allows for multiple accesses to edge computing infrastructure.

HARMAN’s Smart City Solutions 

The new part of the entire ecosystem is the HARMAN Savari MECWAVE software platform for edge computing that reduces latency and enables new use cases and functionality.

For example, there is a traffic jam. Through edge computing, it can be determined that there is a traffic jam. Then the information can be sent to all the road users affected, says Jollis.

Jollis notes that the HARMAN Savari MEC stands for multi-access edge computing. Wireless carriers may use the term MEC for mobile edge computing. The HARMAN Savari’s out-of-the-box, end-to-end virtualized infrastructure solution allows for multiple accesses to edge computing infrastructure.

Another example for MEC use is letting the connected drivers know the green wave speed to drive to always go through green lights. There could be hyper-local mapping. If there is a truck double-parked on the road. The system warns the other vehicles not to go there, says Jollis.

Through low latency computing and 5G, MEC can replace some of the functionality of V2V because fast computing can determine the situation.

“MEC computing allows for all the elements for communication.”

HARMAN Savari solutions for a Smart City can help vulnerable road users, drivers in bad weather conditions and compromised drivers.

Say there is an emergency vehicle in the area or a vulnerable road user. Various conflict vectors from the peer-to-peer V2V users are computed on the edge. The platform then makes the information available to those who are not connected to V2V. A 5G enabled phone with an app could take the edge information and warn vulnerable road users such as pedestrians or bicyclists, says Jollis.

MECWAVE is also helpful for determining severe weather or bad driving situations. Real-time vehicle data from V2X and street data from roadside units indicating poor weather road conditions are processed quickly through MECWAVE. Drivers then receive real-time warnings to help them drive safely, he explains.

The system can identify anomalies caused by wrong-way drivers or impaired drivers. The MECWAVE platform issues an alert message to users in the area of potential danger. It will also warn wrong-way and DUI drivers.

“We see this as a breakthrough in V2X. MEC computing allows for all the elements for communication,” says Jollis.

MECWAVE also coordinates with intelligent traffic solutions such as time to the light changes for better traffic flow.

Because of the rules governing them, the RSUs can be equipped with wireless cell sites. The roadside units provide safety and can be placed on the public right away. Mobile operators can deploy cell sites on the RSU. The cell sites help fill in the gaps in coverage in rural areas or places without 5G coverage.

Future applications for the roadside units with 5G cell sites could be for autonomous trucking, farming or mining where there is not good 5G coverage, says Jollis.

HARMAN has proof of concepts with automotive OEMs, mobile operators and other participants. The number of applications is up to the imagination, says Jollis.

For there to be good V2X communication it has to be mandated. For safety, it has to be mandated while consumers just expect safety. HARMAN believes in the future that the NCAPs will require V2X for vehicle safety, reports Jollis.

“Our system brings down the cost with a new approach while enhancing consumer benefits and enabling automakers to meet future NCAP standards,’’ he adds.