press release

Fujikura Ltd. (President and CEO: Masahiko Ito) conducted a safe driving support demonstration (hereinafter referred to as "this demonstration") in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture for four days from March 15th to 18th, 2021, in collaboration with Kansai Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Co., Ltd., Kyocera Corporation, Shinki Bus Co., Ltd., Panasonic System Networks Development Laboratory Co., Ltd., and Magellan Systems Japan Co., Ltd., and succeeded in high-speed wireless communication using 60 GHz mmWave Wireless Communications Module developed by Fujikura in "road-to-vehicle communication ^*1" utilizing utility poles.

This demonstration will verify the effectiveness of safe driving support for route buses at intersections with poor visibility and no traffic lights, through "road-to-vehicle communication" using utility poles and "vehicle-to-vehicle communication ^*2" with bicycles. This will be the first time in the country that these safe driving support measures have been demonstrated using route buses in operation (Note).
For this demonstration, Fujitsu installed communication devices equipped with its proprietary 60 GHz mmWave Wireless Communications Module on utility poles and route buses for the purpose of demonstrating "road-to-vehicle communication." By establishing a high-speed wireless connection between the route buses and various other communication devices installed on the utility poles, Fujitsu succeeded in uploading video footage from in-vehicle cameras in real time and transmitting GNSS correction data ^*3 required for high-precision vehicle positioning, which is essential for supporting safe driving.

The 60 GHz mmWave Wireless Communications Module developed by our company has a world-class communication speed (>2 Gbps) and long-distance transmission (>500 m) of strong point / feature, and in this demonstration, we have newly realized an instant connection function for mobile communications. As a result, we have been able to expand the area where our 60 GHz mmWave Wireless Communications Module can be used in the mobile communications field in addition to the conventional fixed-line telecommunications field. Taking advantage of this newly realized strong point / feature, we will accelerate the study of the application of our 60 GHz mmWave Wireless Communications Module for "V2X ^{*4 equipment"} to be installed in various vehicles such as general vehicles, transportation-related vehicles such as buses and trucks, construction and work vehicles, and AGVs ^* 5 moving in factories.

To enable outdoor evaluation of this 60 GHz mmWave Wireless Communications Module, we plan to start offering an "outdoor evaluation kit" in the form of the communication device used in this demonstration from the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. This kit contains the 60 GHz millimeter-wave communication module and a control processor in a housing for outdoor evaluation, and is equipped with a practical network interface of two gigabit Ethernet.
With this kit, we will support our customers' development of communications equipment by providing an environment in which they can evaluate the excellent outdoor transmission performance of our 60 GHz mmWave Wireless Communications Module.

Note: For details of this demonstration, please also refer to the press release dated March 15, 2021, "Implementation of a Safe Driving Support Demonstration Using Route Buses in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture." (https://www.fujikura.co.jp/newsrelease/products/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2021/03/15/20210315.pdf )

Explanation of terms
*1 Road-to-vehicle communication: Two-way communication between vehicles and communication equipment installed on roads to provide various driving support services.
*2 Vehicle-to-vehicle communication: Two-way communication between vehicles for various driving support purposes.
*3 GNSS correction data: Correction data for GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) satellite clock errors and radio wave delays caused by passing through the ionosphere is generated by ground reference stations and transmitted to mobile stations via radio or the Internet, achieving centimeter-level positioning accuracy.
*4 AGV: Automatic Guided Vehicle. An unmanned transport vehicle used for industrial purposes.
*5 V2X: Vehicle to X. Interconnecting vehicles, people, and networks to exchange data.

Our 60GHz millimeter wave wireless communication device in Himeji City safe driving support demonstration project

Vehicle-mounted camera footage transmitted in real time via 60GHz millimeter wave communications equipment

Appearance of outdoor evaluation kit

Outdoor evaluation kit main specifications