Our research team developed a novel digital twin-based system for testing and validating CCAM applications in a mixed-reality environment. Building upon previous work, we enabled highly accurate real-time mesoscopic V2X simulations to be integrated into a mixed-reality setup. While V2X communication is essential for connected and automated mobility, its wireless nature makes it vulnerable to degradation due to radio interference or cyberattacks. Testing algorithms under such real-world conditions is therefore crucial.
However, emulating the entire radio communication environment of traffic is challenging, especially given the low penetration rate of V2X-equipped vehicles. This means that interfering radio devices are not readily available for testing—particularly not at a city-wide scale. To overcome this, we incorporated a software-defined radio (SDR) to realistically generate V2X radio interference.
Using simulation data, we derived a probability density function to model packet drop frequencies. The mixed-reality test system leverages the SDR to emit real radio interference, directly affecting the radio module of the test vehicle. This allows us to examine edge cases and assess the robustness of applications and algorithms under adverse communication conditions.
To demonstrate the system’s capabilities, we conducted a proof-of-concept measurement campaign. During the tests, vehicles equipped with real V2X devices traveled a section of the Hungarian M5 motorway. Results confirmed that the SDR-enhanced system successfully induced packet losses, with a measured packet drop rate of 29.69%. In some cases, it was even capable of fully disrupting V2X communication.
