What you'll learn:
- Wi-Fi 7 advantages, especially for automotive systems.
- Qualcomm's automotive Wi-Fi 7 deployment.
The increase in wireless functionality in the cloud and IoT also represents a growth in its importance to society at large. The more that things are done smartly and remotely, the more people rely on cloud-based solutions for essential personal functionality. The expansion of smart wireless devices and services, and the convenience and functionality they bring, lead people to expect them to continue that growth in importance in our culture.
The automobile is a bellwether technology platform, as it has already become an indispensable part of society, and every new technological advance seemingly gets ported to vehicular systems. Wireless technology, the IoT, and cloud-based products and solutions are already being deployed in cars, and the end is nowhere in sight. Now the big push is to increase the capability, functionality, and utility of automotive systems using the latest wireless solutions in as optimal and cost-effective ways as possible.
Next-Generation Automotive Functionality
One of the biggest trends in automotive is the transition toward software-defined vehicle architectures, where connectivity is an indispensable infrastructure in achieving the desired functionality. Next-generation wireless protocols like Wi-Fi 7 are facilitating this transformation, and companies like Qualcomm are developing automotive solutions to port these advanced wireless technologies into cars, trucks, and buses.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Auto Connectivity platform is a portfolio of connectivity solutions that includes cellular 5G/4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, C-V2X, and precise positioning technologies, each created to offer comprehensive in-vehicle connectivity. It's represented by recently released devices like the QCA6797AQ, the first automotive-grade Wi-Fi 7 Access Point solution.
What Advances Does Wi-Fi 7 Bring to the Connectivity Table?
The advanced functionalities in Wi-Fi 7 include multi-link multi-radio capability, a 320-MHz channel bandwidth, 4K quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), adaptive puncturing, improved link reliability, and lower latency. All of these features support the growing demand for advanced in-vehicle features like advanced personalization, advanced infotainment systems, and augmented-reality dashboards.
Wi-Fi 7 also supports the explosion of immersive in-vehicle experiences and next-generation interactive entertainment. It manages the connectivity needs essential for such sophisticated in-vehicle functionality.
Operating simultaneously on 5- and 6-GHz channels, Wi-Fi 7 uses the best available channel for more reliable connections and uninterrupted data transfers with lower latencies. Wi-Fi 7 can achieve peak throughputs of up to 5.8 Gb/s, facilitating the download of HD maps and videos. Its adaptive-puncturing capability allows for operation even when part of the channel is unavailable, leading to more efficient use of spectrum.
As vehicles increasingly integrate connectivity, designers and manufacturers are challenged to provide new opportunities for people to use connected products and services. These services will not only create more and different ways to develop additional and ongoing sources of revenue, but also redefine automotive business models and change the societal dynamics of how cars engage with their owners.