On September 18th, 2019, Vodafone Germany announced that they successfully ran a test with a remote-controlled train using 5G technology (Nu.nl, 2019). Inputs from the train driver were registered by the train within ten milliseconds, which is even faster than the human reaction time of 25 milliseconds (Backyardbrains.com, n.d.). This development would make it possible in the long term to control trains remotely. It also raises the question: is this the beginning of the end for physically present drivers?
The successful test is a great leap in a sector that you wouldn’t immediately think about when you’re thinking about 5G. The reason why this development took place in the first place comes from one of the main benefits of 5G: low latency. Low latency makes it possible to remotely control things with virtually no lag (Shankland, 2019). If this is applied to the railway industry, drivers have enough time to respond to possible dangers and can take over and drive trains without first having to physically travel to the location of the train. Given a good coverage, this will practically be as safe as a physical driver, save a lot of time for the drivers and will drastically decrease delays.
Another useful application of this technology would be the self-driving car. These cars would be able to seamlessly communicate about each other’s position, making them faster, smarter and safer (Llanasas, 2019). However, a downside from this innovation is the loss of control. It can be quite frightening being in a vulnerable position, relying completely at some piece of technology. This could be solved by introducing remote drivers, for people who don’t feel comfortable enough using a self-driving car but also don’t want to drive themselves. This way, the taxi industry won’t be completely destroyed, passengers will have a safer feeling and will always have someone to talk to.
The biggest downside, however, is still the safety concern. These new ways of transportation are all safe, in case that the coverage is excellent. A short disconnection or coverage failure, however, could end up in a major disaster. The question is: is there a way to guarantee the safety of the passengers, no matter what happens? The practical benefits of 5G replacing physical presence of drivers (or drivers at all) are great, but it is also be quite scary and has some serious safety-related concerns, which makes it a great cause for discussion.
References
Backyardbrains.com. (2019). Experiment: How Fast Your Brain Reacts To Stimuli. [online] Available at: https://backyardbrains.com/experiments/reactiontime [Accessed 23 Sep. 2019].
Llanasas, R. (2019). 5G’s Important Role in Autonomous Car Technology. [online] Machine Design. Available at: https://www.machinedesign.com/motion-control/5g-s-important-role-autonomous-car-technology [Accessed 22 Sep. 2019].
Nu.nl. (2019). Duitse trein op afstand bestuurd met behulp van 5G-technologie. [online] Available at: https://www.nu.nl/tech/5994554/duitse-trein-op-afstand-bestuurd-met-behulp-van-5g-technologie.html [Accessed 23 Sep. 2019].
Shankland, S. (2019). 5G’s fast responsiveness is the real reason it’ll be revolutionary. [online] CNET. Available at: https://www.cnet.com/news/how-5g-aims-to-end-network-latency-response-time/ [Accessed 24 Sep. 2019].
Interesting article! I definitely see the potential of 5G in transportation. However, I see other big downsides. Who is liable in the case of a crash? Is the owner of the train, the manufacturer of the train or software developer accountable? Besides, is there any guarantee that the software can’t be hacked? Those questions are difficult to answer. Those issues should be solved before the introduction of remote-controlled vehicles.