Anritsu and Toyota develop 5G vehicle OTA RF test system
Microwave Vision Group has developed the MVG 2 over the air (OTA) test environment for 5G using Anritsu’s radio communication test station, the MT8000A. It is for use by Toyota and is believed to be the world’s first 5G vehicle OTA RF test system.
Autonomous driving requires simultaneous communications with the surrounding environment, including other vehicles, road infrastructure and networks. A key technology is 5G supporting large capacity, low latency, massive connections to transfer the large data volumes generated by various sensors, such as vehicle cameras, as well as for 3D high-definition mapping data.
5G communications products are installed in vehicles as the “connected car”, however, before release, the connected vehicle communications performance must be tested and verified in an OTA environment, simulating as close to the actual environment as possible.
The radio communication test station MT8000A is a 5G basestation simulator for 5G RF and protocol measurements as well as application tests. It supports high order 4×4 MIMO and carrier aggregation (8CA) technologies for fast, large capacity communications. Applications cover smartphone testing, 5G communications function tests and evaluations of antennae and high frequency parts.
To characterise an antenna, its radiation patterns must be measured to determine how well, and in which direction, it radiates. To quickly obtain reliable 3D radiation patterns, antenna performance tests are moving towards OTA test. OTA measurement tests are performed through a radio communication tester and are conducted using a near-field measurement method in an anechoic chamber to block external electromagnetic fields and to simulate realistic and complex RF scenarios. MVG offers OTA measurement specifically designed for the verification of automotive wireless performance. A high precision positioning system (controller and turntable) allow continuous on-the-fly measurements to be performed for quick and accurate measurement of directivity, gain and efficiency.
“To deliver a full-vehicle OTA test solution that meets the needs of current and future vehicle testing, we needed to integrate a radio communication test system supporting 5G frequencies,” explains Per Iversen, chief technology officer, MVG. “We believe that MVG OTA test environment combined with the Anritsu MT8000A is the right combination to meet the test needs of tomorrow’s connected vehicles.”
Created in 1986, the Microwave Vision Group (MVG) has developed an expertise in the visualisation of electromagnetic waves. It develops systems that allow the visualisation of electromagnetic waves – in smartphones, computers, tablets, cars, trains, and planes – while evaluating the characteristics of antennae and accelerating the development of products using microwave frequencies.
Anritsu has provided communications test and measurement solutions for 125 years. Its philosophy engages customers as partners to help develop wireless, optical, microwave/RF, and digital solutions for R&D, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance applications, as well as multi-dimensional service assurance for network monitoring and optimisation.
Anritsu also provides precision microwave/RF components, optical devices, and high-speed electrical devices for communication products and systems.
