GM Says Cisco Network Speeding Testing

General Motors is putting Cisco’s industrial wireless network to work at its Milford, MI, proving ground as it looks to speed development of new models, including upcoming autonomous and electric vehicles.

Use of the network allows for multiple GM engineers to access several hundred data channels simultaneously during test runs at the track, as well as modify the test itself as it’s being run to optimize results.

Until now, engineers using wireless connectivity had to download data and analyze it offsite. Often tests had to be rerun because it wasn’t clear an anomaly had occurred until the data could be reviewed.

The two companies say that since deploying Cisco’s Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (CURWB) for trackside connectivity, GM engineers have been able to capture sensor data at speeds up to 100 mph (161 km/h) in real time and significantly reduce testing time.

Cisco says CURWB “combines the reliability and speed of fiber connectivity with the flexibility of wireless communications” and can deliver up to 500 Mbps seamlessly to trackside engineers.

“The ability to seamlessly transition between simulation and physical testing requires large amounts of data to move between systems quickly and efficiently. Cisco’s technology is helping to make this move a reality,” says Stephen Jenkins, director-Global Labs, Proving Grounds Operations, & Materials Engineering for GM.

Anthony Bolton, GM’s CIO & CTO, Global Telecommunication & End Use Services, Infrastructure & Development, adds: “As GM accelerates the shift to electric vehicles, every minute counts. Using the network and its data to accelerate our performance testing is the type of innovation that delivers real business value as we transition from automaker to platform innovator.”