Introductory description

This module aims to equip students with up-to-date, comprehensive knowledge of the key wired and wireless communication technologies that are currently used—or are expected to be used—in modern and future consumer vehicles. As vehicles become increasingly connected and autonomous, understanding the communication infrastructure that underpins these capabilities is essential.

Students will explore both foundational and advanced communication systems, with a particular focus on automotive Ethernet, 5G, and their integration into vehicle networks. The module will examine how these technologies support various applications such as advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), infotainment, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, and over-the-air (OTA) updates.

By the end of the module, students will have a thorough understanding of the role of communication technologies in automotive systems and will be well-prepared to contribute to the design and development of next-generation vehicle architectures.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Indicative outline

Introduction: Taxonomy of modern communications. OSI Model. Context of Networks and Communications.

Telecommunications Theory:

• Pulse Modulation: Analog to digital conversion. Sampling, aliasing, and Nyquist, Equalisation. Digitisation, quantisation and errors. Encoding and decoding.
• Baseband and Passband Modulation: baseband and applications of baseband transmission. ISI. Pulse shaping Baseband to pass-band. Carrier waves. Basic modulation types. Error rates and bandwidth relationships.
• Coding Theory: BER, basic coding schemes, AWGN. Error detection and correction, basic ECC Shannon limits and/or capacity.
• Multiple Access: Single channel communications. Multiple access motivation and techniques. Multiple access in practice.

Wireless Technologies

• Link Budget and Channel: Spectrum Reuse. Noise, origins and types. Free space losses. Carrier to Noise Ratio. Propagation models.
• GNSS: Core principles and motivation in the context of automotive. Performance metrics. Automotive integration.
• 5G: Key Technologies and Roadmap for 5G. Background and Demands. 5G Specifications. Absorptions and specific channel limitations. OFDM/multicarrier transmitter and receiver. Convergence including IoT. Backward (and forward) compatibility.

Wired Technologies

• CAN/CAN-FD: Context and principle applications. Physical layer (low speed and high speed), and architecture. Protocol - Message frames, headers, addressing, message IDs. Usage and standards compliance.
• LIN: Context and principle applications. Physical layer. Protocol - Message frames, headers, addressing etc. Topology. Usage and compliance. API.
• Ethernet: General Ethernet principles. Networking model, and comparison between other technologies. Terminology. Standards. Topologies e.g. bridges, nodes, stations etc. Common physical layers and IEEE 802.3.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Critically evaluate communication building blocks and how they fit within a communication system [AHEP:4, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M16, M17]
• Evaluate a complete communication system within the wider automotive eco-system with a view towards future communication systems. [AHEP:4, M1, M4, M5, M7, M16, M17]
• Apply relevant practical communications techniques and understand how their results may be used to inform judgements, develop and advance ideas and/or practice. [AHEP:4, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M17]
• Demonstrate the ability to design communication systems to support connectivity aspect of connected and/or autonomous systems. [AHEP:4, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M16, M17]
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of and competence in the use of appropriate channel modelling tools and techniques for the purpose of system performance prediction. [AHEP:4, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M17]

Indicative reading list

• JIANG H., Channel modeling in 5G wireless communication systems, (2020), ISBN: 9783030328696.
• TOSKAL A., 5G technology : 3GPP new radio, (2020), ISBN: 1119236290
• GOLDSMITH, A., Wireless Communications, Cambridge University Press, (2005), ISBN: 0521837162.
• TSE, D., Fundamentals of Wireless Communications, Cambridge University Press, (2005), ISBN: 0521845270.
• MATHEUS, K., Automotive Ethernet, Cambridge University Press, (2017), ISBN: 1107183227.
• PARET, D., Multiplexed Networks for Embedded Systems: CAN, LIN, FlexRay, Safe-by-Wire, (2007), ISBN: 0470034165.
• MEAD, N.R., Cyber Security Engineering: A Practical Approach for Systems and Software Assurance, (2016), ISBN: 0134189809.
• Wiley 5G Ref: The Essential 5G reference Online, (2019), ISBN: 9781119471509. (Optional Depending on Library Availability)

Subject specific skills

Equipment Handling, Equipment Usage, Test and Measurement, Matlab Analysis.

Transferable skills

group work, time management, presentation skills.