Cisco’s Wireless Backhaul Technology Allows GM Engineers to Monitor Pre-Production Testing in Real Time

Vehicles are more computerized than ever before, and so is their development. Now, a new partnership between General Motors and Cisco aims to take testing of pre-production vehicles to a whole new level.

In the past, because wireless LTE technology was unreliable at the high speeds on the test track, carmakers were forced to record data locally and analyze it off-site. They often had to re-run the same tests later, wasting time and resources in the process.

Now, though, GM has become the first automaker to use Cisco wireless backhaul technology that allows multiple GM test engineers at the GM Milford Proving Ground to actively monitor several hundred data channels simultaneously during a test run – in real time. That way, they can instantly modify the test as it’s being run to get the best results possible.

“As GM accelerates the shift to electric vehicles, every minute counts,” said Anthony Bolton, CIO & CTO, Global Telecommunication & End Use Services, Infrastructure & Development, General Motors. “Using the network and its data to accelerate our performance testing is the type of innovation that delivers real business value as we transition from automaker to platform innovator.”

Cisco’s wireless backhaul technology combines the reliability and speed of fiber connectivity with the flexibility of wireless communications, the company says, delivering up to 500 Mbps with ultra-low latency, high-bandwidth wireless with seamless handoffs and private mobile connectivity for mission critical applications.

GM’s Stephen Jenkins, Director Global Labs, Proving Grounds Operations, & Materials Engineering, says since using the new Cisco system at Milford, GM now has “stable and secure wireless network connections” where vehicle speeds often are greater than 100 mph. “This connectivity allows us to perform real-time analysis,” he says, “and stream information directly into our Enterprise Data Center without any buffering or human intervention.”

Developing autonomous vehicles will be key for GM to ultimately reach its goal of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, according to Jenkins. “The ability to seamlessly transition between simulation and physical testing requires large amounts of data to move between systems quickly and efficiently,” he says. “Cisco’s technology is helping to make this move a reality.”

Cisco VP of Engineering, Cisco IoT Michael Shannon says GM needed a mature solution to gain real-time visibility into vehicle test data and tested many technologies which all fell short. “Since deploying Cisco wireless backhaul, GM was able to achieve the visibility needed to shorten engineering cycles – ultimately helping to greatly improve time to market for technical innovations,” he says.

Source:
cisco.com

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