On the 6th, at the 2017 World Congress on Intelligent Connected Vehicles held in Jiading, Shanghai, Xin Guobin, Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated in his opening address that the development of intelligent connected vehicles is a key vehicle for advancing the construction of a ‘Transport Powerhouse’, ‘Digital China’ and a ‘Smart Society’. Domestic and international guests attending the conference also unanimously agreed that intelligent connected vehicles have become a global trend driving the development and upgrading of next-generation information and manufacturing technologies, and that China, with its unique advantages, is poised to stand out in this new round of industrial upgrading.
Many Countries Recognise the ‘Engine’ Effect of Intelligent Connected Vehicles
This reporter learnt at the conference that intelligent connected vehicles have become a global hot topic, with countries such as the UK, Japan and the US having formulated national-level development plans.
In her speech, British Ambassador to China Barbara Wood said that currently half of all vehicles in the UK are connected, and the UK’s goal is for all locally produced vehicles to be connected by 2020, with Level 3 autonomous driving to be achieved by 2028. Furthermore, in Japan, where the population is ageing rapidly, intelligent connected vehicles are receiving even greater attention from both the government and the private sector. According to Noriyuki Kobayashi, Head of Global Automotive Business at Nomura Research Institute, Japan already possesses practical experience with autonomous buses and autonomous delivery services; several companies, including SoftBank and Yahoo! Japan, have conducted trials of autonomous buses in rural areas of Japan.
Why are countries around the world focusing on intelligent connected vehicles? In the view of industry insiders, intelligent connected vehicles not only enhance road safety and the efficiency of transport networks, but are also closely linked to industrial upgrading. Smart connected vehicles represent the accelerated convergence of electronics, information and communications technology with the automotive industry, enabling cars to evolve from mere means of transport into smart terminals. In this process, the development of intelligent, networked and collaborative technologies has not only become a breakthrough for the transformation and upgrading of the automotive industry, but also for next-generation information technology and smart manufacturing.
For example, the application of autonomous driving is driving the development of sensors. Tesla’s Autopilot 2.0 features eight cameras and 12 ultrasonic radar sensors. Toyota’s autonomous vehicles, meanwhile, are equipped with 12 sensors, including one camera, five radars for measuring vehicle speed, and six lidars for detecting surrounding objects. Currently, several domestic and international companies, including Shanghai Sijie Microelectronics Co., Ltd., have achieved mass production of 24 GHz millimetre-wave radar, whilst 77 GHz millimetre-wave radar and lidar are also under development.
An industry insider told this reporter that the foundation for realising intelligent connected vehicles lies in ‘electrification plus autonomous driving’, with the underlying technologies—including ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), 5G, AI (Artificial Intelligence), cloud computing and big data—set to drive the development and upgrading of numerous industries such as software, algorithms, sensors, semiconductors and next-generation communications.
Li Jun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, summarised the economic ‘engine effect’ brought about by intelligent connected vehicles in five key areas: firstly, the creation of a software-led real economy; secondly, the promotion of high-tech developments such as artificial intelligence; thirdly, the emergence of new component industries; fourthly, the creation of a mobility services industry; and fifthly, support for the development of smart cities.
Leading nations worldwide are all keen to gain the upper hand at the starting line of this industrial and technological upgrade. Noriyuki Kobayashi explained that Japan has drawn up a national roadmap for the development of autonomous driving, aiming to achieve autonomous driving on motorways by 2020 and Level 4 autonomous driving within designated areas. Wu Baina, meanwhile, stated that the UK will increase its support for the development of intelligent connected vehicles, focusing its efforts on three key areas: refining regulations, establishing a collaborative testing ecosystem, and increasing investment in research and development. It is reported that the UK invested £100 million in 2016 to establish a CAV test centre and will invest over £200 million in the Centre for Advanced Vehicles project.
China Aims to Become a ‘Hub’ for Intelligent Connected Vehicles
In the transition from ‘Made in China’ to ‘Intelligent Manufacturing in China’, intelligent connected vehicles are expected to serve as a key vehicle and breakthrough point.
Xin Guobin stated that the development of intelligent connected vehicles is precisely a key vehicle for advancing the construction of a ‘Transport Powerhouse’, ‘Digital China’ and a ‘Smart Society’.
To date, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has successively issued a series of guiding documents, including the Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan for the Automotive Industry, the Technical Roadmap for Intelligent Connected Vehicles, and the Action Plan for the Development of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) and 5G. It has also promoted the establishment of a Special Committee for the Development of the V2X Industry, supported the research, development and application testing of key technologies, and set up testing and demonstration zones in Shanghai, Chongqing and Beijing, amongst others.
In Xin Guobin’s view, China possesses four major advantages in the development of intelligent connected vehicles: firstly, in terms of industrial foundations, China has achieved significant results in the development of new energy vehicles, laying the groundwork for the development of intelligent connected vehicles; secondly, in terms of information technology support, a number of internationally leading enterprises have emerged in fields such as mobile internet, with China holding a leading international edge particularly in 5G and LTE-V (vehicle-to-vehicle communication protocol) technologies; thirdly, in terms of institutional mechanisms, China’s policy framework and implementation system are being continuously refined, providing robust institutional safeguards for the coordinated development of infrastructure; fourthly, in terms of market potential, China is the world’s largest automotive market, offering vast development opportunities for domestic brands of intelligent connected vehicles.
Wu Baina also noted that Chinese automotive manufacturers are actively driving the development of intelligent connected vehicles, with several companies—including SAIC, Geely and Changan—having established R&D centres in the UK to develop next-generation products and technologies. Noriyuki Kobayashi, meanwhile, believes that China’s strengths lie in its diverse range of pilot projects and the support of internet platforms, as well as the rapid development of technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence.
It is reported that Shanghai is set to become a leading hub for China’s intelligent connected vehicle industry. In his address, Zhou Bo, Executive Vice Mayor of Shanghai, stated that the city possesses numerous advantages, including accelerated industrial development, a wealth of application scenarios and a concentration of innovation resources. The next step will be to establish Jiading as the core development zone to build an industrial ecosystem for intelligent connected vehicles, striving to become a world-class automotive industry centre.
Addressing the current challenges in the development of intelligent connected vehicles, particularly regarding infrastructure and legal frameworks, Xin Guobin stated that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) will prioritise four key areas moving forward: establishing standards as a priority and improving regulations; building an ecosystem and enhancing infrastructure; strengthening supervision and ensuring safety; and deepening cooperation, openness and sharing. These measures aim to drive the better and faster development of intelligent connected vehicles. (Reporter Li Xingcai)
(Reprinted from Sohu.com)