Real-time racing experience on 5G network

Budapest, September 23, 2022 - We presented the pilot results of our e-sport development at Hungaroring. The Digital Twin project will harness the capabilities of the 5G network by deploying experimental devices. Thanks to high-precision positioning and fast data transmission, the battle of the cars on the racetrack can be joined online. One of the possible outcomes of this development work is that e-sport fans will be able to test their skills in real time against the participants of a Formula 1 race. Magyar Telekom and T-Systems Hungary Zrt., the Digital Development Centre of Széchenyi István University in Győr, the Governmental IT Development Agency and the Ministry of Technology and Industry participated in the unique cooperation coordinated by HUMDA Lab Nonprofit Ltd.

At the event, it was possible to compete against the two touring cars on the Hungaroring track, sitting in a simulator in the pit lane building. The Digital Twin pilot project used the Blended Reality function to display the real-time events on the simulator screen. Both cars were equipped with a prototype device that transmitted the necessary data via Magyar Telekom's 5G network.

Vehicle movements can be tracked using real-time GPS positioning with an accuracy of better than 10 centimetres. Additional sensor data, such as steering angle, wheel speed and shock absorber position, also help to get the right view. The project required the development of a tool for accurate positioning and data collection, and a forward-looking communication network was built to handle the data processing and data package appropriately.

The information collected by the sensors is transmitted from the vehicle to the simulation environment at high speed via the 5G network set up by Magyar Telekom on behalf of the Government Information Technology Development Agency. The 5G cells ensure reliable data transmission with the lowest possible latency throughout the entire race track. The special data distribution needs of the racing cars can be met without any problems by a low-latency network (up to 10 ms) capable of handling up to 800 Mbps, despite the extreme speed of the vehicles. It is also important to mention that Magyar Telekom has deployed the first 5G-Campus radio network slicing technology here, which not only guarantees real-time communication between cars, but also allows it to serve the public network traffic needs of users during major events. The development of the visualisation software and algorithms required the effective collaboration of the participating government, corporate and academic partners.

- Once again, we were able to see the almost inexhaustible potential of a very exciting technology in practice. Now I was able to race two cars from the simulator, but in the not too distant future, anyone can join a real Formula 1 race over the internet to overtake Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton around the corner. The Digital Twin is an example of the ingenuity of Hungarian engineers and shows the power of teamwork. The pilot project is an excellent opportunity to deepen cooperation between the scientific and competitive worlds. It can help to discover new talents in Hungarian competitive sports and e-sports and to support the future generation of engineers. – said Minister of Technology and Industry László Palkovics.

- As part of our strategic partnership with Magyar Telekom, we explored the relationship between high-speed vehicles and 5G in the Digital Twin project. During the pilot, it was important that the results could be well captured, replicated and tested, which could serve as a basis for further autonomous car development projects. The data transmission tests were also tested at high vehicle speeds, with the highest measured vehicle speed exceeding 200km/h, and the 5G network, which covers the entire Hungaroring track, is operating at 3.5GHz and is served by 5 base stations. – said Zsolt Gyulay, CEO of Hungaroring Sport Zrt.

- Magyar Telekom's 5G network and the digital services based on it will make companies more competitive in many areas of business. It is an outstanding opportunity to demonstrate this in a spectacular and exciting process such as car racing, - added Gábor Bódi, Director of Strategy and Governance at T-Systems Hungary.

- Working together was a real test for development engineers, with many professional challenges. At the university, we custom-developed the hardware and software components of an on-board unit capable of high-precision positioning, which transmits data to the server over the 5G network, all at a race speed. Here, we also provided the server for fast data structuring and processing, as well as our own base station for positioning, - said István Drotár, Head of the Digital Development Centre at Széchenyi István University, explaining the details of the pilot.

- The challenge in transmitting data was not only to format the packets according to the communication protocols, but also to take into account the frequency, length and type of data expected by the simulation and visualisation environment. One of the tasks of the HUMDA Lab was therefore to specify the structure of each data packet, and thus the information required and its format. These are fed into the FASTLAP software we provide, which focuses on real-time driving simulation. The software has been extended in many areas according to the needs of the project, - emphasised Gergely Bári, Managing Director of HUMDA Lab.

HUMDA Lab is a member of the Széchenyi University Group, a research, development and innovation company. Our experts, in cooperation with international partners, are constantly researching and testing new technical solutions and new technologies, thus helping to promote the transfer of knowledge and the development of high-value added intellectual capital in Hungary, and to make Hungary and the region an attractive investment, start-up and test location for technology companies interested in the automotive and motorsport industries. HUMDA, a member of the Széchenyi University Group, is rethinking and strengthening Hungary's role in the era of transformational mobility. The Agency contributes to the development of the Hungarian transport culture and transport safety, and also performs economic development and sports diplomacy tasks in addition to promoting domestic engineering education and greener technologies. kommunikacio@humda.hu

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