Finnish project to use 6G to give push to autonomous driving

The software-focused project was launched to discover ways to combine extended situational information with efficient data transfer and processing methods for semi-autonomous and autonomous driving, summarised Kari Liukkunen, the adjunct professor in charge of the project at the University of Oulu.

“We also want to find out how the solutions and software architecture can be tested in both virtual and real traffic situations,” he added.

Extended situational information refers to information from outside the scope of the built-in sensors of vehicles. The research team will collect, analyse and utilise situational and onboard data with the help of wireless networks and distributed computing solutions with a view to, for example, assisting drivers and enabling both the remote control of public transport and fully autonomous driving.

Pertti Seppänen, university lecturer at the University of Oulu, estimated that the research results can be utilised especially by software and transport equipment developers to enhance their knowhow and business opportunities.

“As part of other 6G research made at the University of Oulu, this project offers a concrete, intelligent traffic use case for developing and testing software solutions and architectures,” he said.

FMI, meanwhile, will complement the research themes by tailoring road weather services for autonomous driving with the help of radar-originated short-term forecasts, its miniature autonomous vehicle and weather services test track in Sodankylä, Lapland, revealed Timo Sukuvaara, senior research scientist at FMI.

Set to run until May 2026, the 6G Visible project is funded by Business Finland.