Directives for Function Offloading in 5G Networks Based on a Performance Characteristics Analysis

Cloud-based offloading helps address energy consumption and performance challenges in executing resource-intensive vehicle algorithms. Utilizing 5G, with its low latency and high bandwidth, enables seamless vehicle-to-cloud integration. Currently, only non-standalone 5G is publicly available, and real-world applications remain underexplored compared to theoretical studies. This paper evaluates 5G non-standalone networks for cloud execution of vehicle functions, focusing on latency, Round Trip Time, and packet delivery. Tests used two AI-based algorithms -- emotion recognition and object recognition -- along an 8.8 km route in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, encompassing urban, rural, and forested areas. Two platforms were analyzed: a cloudlet in Frankfurt and a cloud in Mannheim, employing various deployment strategies like conventional applications and containerized and container-orchestrated setups. Key findings highlight an average signal quality of 84 %, with no connectivity interruptions despite minor drops in built-up areas. Packet analysis revealed a Packet Error Rate below 0.1 % for both algorithms. Transfer times varied significantly depending on the geographical location and the backend servers' network connections, while processing times were mainly influenced by the computation hardware in use. Additionally, cloud offloading seems only be a suitable option, when a round trip time of more than 150 ms is possible.