SGS opens vehicle OTA performance lab in Suzhou, China

In an age of 5G, IoT, artificial intelligence, big data and other new technologies, the lab provides an integrated one-stop, state-of-the-art testing and certification solution for electric and/or connected vehicles and their networks in the APAC region.

The lab fully integrates advantageous resources in the fields of automobile, electronics, communication and reliability testing to provide technical verification, product certification, quality improvement and technology development services for commercial customers. Outcomes shorten the R&D cycle of automotive enterprises and accelerate the speed of products to reach market.

It is the only third-party laboratory in the world to use the standard all radio wave scheme to perform vehicle OTA testing; and is also the only testing lab that supports both vehicle-level and component-level testing, and simultaneously meets 5GAA, CTIA requirements.

Its range of capabilities include:

• In-vehicle networking terminal test and out-vehicle networking terminal test, such as 5G regulatory certification for mobile communication: CE, FCC, IC, MIC and ITA which cover more than 180 countries around the world
• Operator 5G test requirements GCF, PTCRB
• Emergency call (eCall), ultra-wideband technology (FiRa), V2X, logo certification (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, UWB, USB Type-C, HDMI, etc.), product compatibility, interoperability (Carplay, Android Auto), voice recognition, signal measurement, software verification, global telecom operator network entry certification and other wireless technologies and related RF testing, automotive safety and mechanical reliability, environmental simulation verification, automotive EMC and many other fields

Antenna performance test scheme

The lab benefits from SGS’s investment in an MVG SG3000, a multi-probe antenna measurement and OTA test system for component to full-scale vehicle testing. This test system is the first in the world to support OTA measurements for 5G FR1 NSA / SA, GNSS, C-V2X and the emerging UWB technology for automobiles in compliance with the 5GAA Vehicular Antenna Test Methodology (VATM) Standard.

The antenna performance test scheme fully adopts the spherical near-field multi-probe test system that is most accepted by domestic and foreign vehicle manufacturers, which can verify vehicle 2/3/4/5G, GNSS (including GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass), V2X, UWB and other technologies, covering the frequency range from 400MHz to 10GHz. This improves both driver safety, through cooperative vehicle infrastructure, and user experience through the improved stability of Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connection and the accuracy of navigation and positioning.

David Chu, SGS Global VP of Connectivity SBU, said: “With the expansion of wireless communication networks in automotive systems and the increasing regulations that guide them, the MVG SG 3000 will allow us to support our customers in performing antenna and OTA testing on not only sub-system components, but full-scale vehicle systems. It is of utmost importance to our customers to obtain accurate test results in a timely matter in order to meet rigorous automotive test standards.”