Sony Corporation and NTT DOCOMO Inc. have announced that they will test Sony's conceptual driverless vehicle, the New Concept Cart SC-1, which utilizes 5G mobile technologies for a number of different remotely controlled functions.

The test will be conducted using the trial network in DOCOMO 5G Open Lab GUAM, providing DOCOMO-constructed test facilities and an outdoor verification environment, which will be operated by DOCOMO PACIFIC Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of DOCOMO.

This testing will verify data transmission and operational performance that is needed to remotely control the cart from a long distance using the extra-high speed, large capacity, low latency and massive-device connectivity.

For Sony and DOCOMO, this will be their second joint trial of 5G technologies, as the two previously conducted a trial in Japan in 2017, which tested the real-time transmission of high-definition video via a 5G system to a 4K digital-signage system fitted to the outside of the cart.

Described as a “highly conceptual vehicle that incorporates artificial-intelligence (AI) and robotics technologies,” the new Concept Cart SC-1 is equipped with image sensors that surpass human vision, according to Sony. These sensors are mounted on the vehicle's front, rear and both sides to provide the remote driver with high-quality video of the surrounding area. They also provide passengers with entertaining augmented-realty scenes of the surrounding area.

The companies say that advertisements and other content can be displayed in high-quality resolution for passersby using the 4K digital-signage system.