Get started with TÜV SÜD
Start your autonomous vehicle testing and homologation journey with us.
What is essential in autonomous vehicle testing to validate the safe operation of autonomous road vehicles?
The prerequisite to achieve type approval for the operation of your autonomous vehicle depends on its intended use, whether it is a single unit or a mass-produced model. It is also crucial to understand the Operational Design Domain (ODD) to delineate the boundaries within which the Autonomous Driving System (ADS) operates.
Considering the specific field of operation, such as whether the vehicle will be used in rural or urban environments, is important. You must also consider country-specific regulations and speed limits, as legislation varies.
The implementation of appropriate management systems is essential to ensure compliance with existing regulations and safe operation under various and changing conditions. Establishing a robust safety concept for the ADS is critical, not only for safety and security but also for regulatory adherence. Providing evidence that the safety system works correctly involves conducting both physical (field testing and proving ground tests) and virtual testing.TÜV SÜD’s expertise in both physical (field testing and proving ground tests) and virtual testing help you to demonstrate the safety and security of your autonomous driving technologies and systems. It also ensures compliance with regulations like Reg. (EU)2022/1426. With our holistic autonomous vehicle testing approach we support you in navigating the field of regulatory and normative landscape for autonomous driving technology and enable you to efficiently operate vehicles in a safe and secure manner.
How TÜV SÜD can address autonomous vehicle testing challenges
Complexity of Operational Design Domain (ODD)
Our autonomous vehicle testing services help define and validate your ODD. We test autonomous driving systems to ensure safety for the intended environments.
Integration and connectivity of hardware and software systems
We test the interaction of hardware & software components to identify potential failures & ensure seamless integration so autonomous vehicles are safe & secure.
Regulatory compliance
We help you navigate regulations for autonomous driving systems, understand requirements, and align testing services to ensure a safe, successful market entry.
Safety validation in multiple environments
We test autonomous vehicles according to an infinite method number, combining physical ground and field testing with virtual scenarios to ensure safe operation.
Cybersecurity threats
We help mitigate cybersecurity risks for your intelligent mobility solutions, protecting autonomous driving technology from threats and ensuring data privacy.
Interoperability
We ensure seamless communication and interaction with infrastructure and vehicles, enabling interoperability across technologies, platforms, and systems.
Public trust and acceptance
Our independent testing and certification ensure your autonomous systems' safety, security and reliability, boosting market acceptance and customer confidence.
What our autonomous driving testing services include
We support in the field of regulatory and normative landscape for autonomous driving technology and enable you to efficiently operate vehicles in a safe and secure manner. Our global network of multidisciplinary experts offers comprehensive services along the value chain to address your industry challenges. Our service portfolio covers the following:
Technical advisory and enablement services
Our technical advisory and enablement services facilitate the roll-out of your autonomous driving technology, supporting you along the value chain. We provide tailored gap analysis, coaching and training. We identify relevant normative standards and regulations that must be met to successfully obtain certification and approval.
Vehicle and operational safety services
Our vehicle and operational safety experts conduct assessments, audits and reviews of documentation. We help you achieve approval for your autonomous driving technology for use on public roads or specific defined operating areas. This includes individual and mass-produced vehicles.
Functional Safety and SOTIF services
Our services cover audits, assessments and reviews for complex electronic annexes of regulations like UNECE, highly automated driving systems (e.g. UN R157), autonomous driving systems (e.g. European Directive 2022/1426), and standards like ISO 26262 or ISO 21448.
Cybersecurity and connectivity
Our in-depth knowledge of the latest cybersecurity standards and regulations, such as UNECE 155 and ISO/SAE 21434, ensures that assessment reports are up to date. This enables you to design and verify secure systems that are future proof.
Software updates
Our expert assessment of automotive software updates and software update management systems (SUMS) confirms if your organisation’s processes provide a suitable and sustainable framework for your software update mechanism. This happens in alignment with UN Regulation 156 which made the approval of software updates mandatory and the harmonised ISO 24089.
Physical testing
Our dedicated global expert team tests your autonomous driving systems according to specific regulations on proving grounds and roads, and at your customer’s site. We can provide testing services on various international proving grounds and can also support you at customer’s site.
Virtual methods
We support the definition of new assessment criteria for the testing of autonomous vehicles by providing a combination of physical ground or field testing, virtual simulation and additional data (e.g. field and accident data). We also support the establishment of new simulation methods for testing your autonomous driving systems.
How TÜV SÜD can help you to bring your autonomous driving systems safely and securely on the roads
TÜV SÜD can already look back over eight years of autonomous vehicle testing experience. Our global team of autonomous driving experts operates globally from Germany, Czech Republic, America, China, and Korea. We are designated as a technical service for UN R155, UN R156 and UN R157, AFGBV and REG (EU) 2022/1426 for SAE level 4 AVs.
In 2017 we provided the world’s first technical report that enabled a test vehicle to achieve an AV permit for public roads. This was the first autonomous bus shuttle in Germany. As we participate in several global standardisation and regulation working groups, we are always up to date with the latest regulatory developments and global requirements. This facilitates the roll-out of autonomous driving systems.
We are a member of some of the main drivers in the field of autonomous driving, like ISO, UNECE, DIN, and ministry advisory groups. We have successfully participated in standards development activities including ISO 24089 (Software Updates), ISO 21448 (SOTIF), ISO/SAE 21434 (Cybersecurity), and ISO 2450x (Scenario-based Testing) standards. We have also been involved in developing the master document for ADS safety requirements, assessments, and test methods (IWGs VMAD/FRAV/ADS), alongside the interpretation document for European Level 4 Regulation (EU(VO)2022/1426).
Our designated technical service provider status, international project experience, and hybrid autonomous vehicle testing approach provide you with reproducible results for type approval and safety confirmation. Our on-track testing vehicle has highly precise remote control to put autonomous driving vehicles through their paces in exactly defined and precisely reproducible scenarios.
Some of the global autonomous driving projects we have been involved with include:
ATLAS-L4 project: This research and development project focused on demonstrating the feasibility of Level 4 automated driverless vehicles on the highway. TÜV SÜD used its extensive experience of automated vehicle test environments to evaluate vehicle safety. This included examining regulations, vehicle capabilities and the validity of simulations. We also supported the public road driving tests.
International Alliance for Mobility Testing and Standardization (IAMTS): IAMTS was founded in 2019 by TÜV SÜD, the Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE), China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), Shanghai Intelligent Automotive Center (SIAC), and the International Transportation Innovation Center (ITIC). The international alliance aims to develop and harmonise globally standardised test methods and commonly accepted uniform standards in the field of automated driving. The mission is to develop an international portfolio of smart mobility testbeds that meet the highest quality implementation and operational standards.
PEGASUS and PEGASUS family projects: In Germany, TÜV SÜD is the only technical service organisation participating in the Government’s PEGASUS project. Headed up by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), PEGASUS is a consortium of 16 industrial and research partners. They are focused on the assessment and validation of highly automated driving systems for use on highways Its Verification Validation Methods (VVM) project focused on the homologation of autonomous vehicles (SAE levels 4/5) in urban environments. TÜV SÜD was the project lead for virtual test methods to define requirements for type approval, and for establishing simulation as a trustworthy test method.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What testing methods are essential to guarantee the safety and cybersecurity of autonomous driving technologies?
To achieve widespread consumer acceptance of autonomous vehicles, the industry needs confidence in the safety of drivers and the environment.
To guarantee the safety and cybersecurity of autonomous driving technologies, a combination of testing methods is essential. This includes a mix of real-world testing and advanced virtual simulation to assess how autonomous vehicles perform under various conditions and scenarios. Those new autonomous vehicle testing approaches, in alignment with existing global standards and regulations, enhance driverless technology roll-out.
Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), as well as communication with other devices (V2D) and networks (V2N) must be rigorously tested. Due to increased interconnectivity and software use, cybersecurity assessments are also becoming critical to protect against potential threats. This ensures data privacy and system integrity. Those interfaces must also be tested to ensure they operate safely after any software updates.
Our experts’ thorough understanding of autonomous driving technology and autonomous driving systems means they can comprehensively assess and ensure safety and cybersecurity.
To guarantee the safety and cybersecurity of autonomous driving technologies, a combination of testing methods is essential. This includes a mix of real-world testing and advanced virtual simulation to assess how autonomous vehicles perform under various conditions and scenarios. Those new autonomous vehicle testing approaches, in alignment with existing global standards and regulations, enhance driverless technology roll-out.
Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), as well as communication with other devices (V2D) and networks (V2N) must be rigorously tested. Due to increased interconnectivity and software use, cybersecurity assessments are also becoming critical to protect against potential threats. This ensures data privacy and system integrity. Those interfaces must also be tested to ensure they operate safely after any software updates.
Our experts’ thorough understanding of autonomous driving technology and autonomous driving systems means they can comprehensively assess and ensure safety and cybersecurity.
What do I need to test to receive regulatory compliance for my autonomous vehicles?
Autonomous vehicle testing includes mandatory regulatory tests on proving grounds and field/road. Additional tests provide evidence for the safety argumentation to ensure that vehicle safety surpasses the required regulatory standards. Therefore, virtual simulation methods can be used. Also, to ensure product safety, additional tests must be conducted in alignment with product liability.
Are regulatory requirements sufficient to ensure the safety and effectiveness of autonomous vehicles?
Regulatory compliance is critical for autonomous vehicle testing, but it is not enough. Comprehensive physical and virtual testing must also ensure that the safety and security systems are robust. Ensuring interoperability with other road users and infrastructure is also critical and the Operational Design Domain (ODD) must also be clearly defined. Effective management systems must be in place to maintain regulatory conformity. With increased connectivity the vehicle's software needs to be continuously monitored and updated. At the same time reliable and safe operation must continue to be ensured. Additionally, meeting or exceeding customer expectations for reliability, usability, and performance is crucial to the successful deployment and acceptance of autonomous vehicles.
What are the levels of autonomy and what are the most relevant standards for each level?
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines autonomy levels into six levels:
Level 0: No automation
Relevant standards include SAE J3016 and ISO 26262 (Functional Safety).
Level 1: Driver assistance
Relevant standards include SAE J3016, ISO 26262, UNECE Regulation 79 (Steering Equipment), and ISO/TS 15007 (Human Factors).
Level 2: Partial automation
Relevant standards include SAE J3016, ISO 26262, UNECE Regulation 79, ISO 21448 (Safety of the Intended Functionality, SOTIF), and UNECE Regulation 157 (Automated Lane Keeping Systems).
Level 3: Conditional automation
Relevant standards include SAE J3016, ISO 26262, ISO 21448, UNECE Regulation 157, UNECE Regulation 155 (Cybersecurity), and ISO/SAE 21434 (Cybersecurity).
Level 4: High automation
Relevant standards include SAE J3016, ISO 26262, ISO 21448, UNECE Regulation 157, UNECE Regulation 155, ISO/SAE 21434, and ISO/TR 4804 (Safety and Performance Requirements for Automated Driving Systems).
Level 5: Full automation
Relevant standards include SAE J3016, ISO 26262, ISO 21448, UNECE Regulation 157, UNECE Regulation 155, ISO/SAE 21434, and ISO/TR 4804.
Level 0: No automation
Relevant standards include SAE J3016 and ISO 26262 (Functional Safety).
Level 1: Driver assistance
Relevant standards include SAE J3016, ISO 26262, UNECE Regulation 79 (Steering Equipment), and ISO/TS 15007 (Human Factors).
Level 2: Partial automation
Relevant standards include SAE J3016, ISO 26262, UNECE Regulation 79, ISO 21448 (Safety of the Intended Functionality, SOTIF), and UNECE Regulation 157 (Automated Lane Keeping Systems).
Level 3: Conditional automation
Relevant standards include SAE J3016, ISO 26262, ISO 21448, UNECE Regulation 157, UNECE Regulation 155 (Cybersecurity), and ISO/SAE 21434 (Cybersecurity).
Level 4: High automation
Relevant standards include SAE J3016, ISO 26262, ISO 21448, UNECE Regulation 157, UNECE Regulation 155, ISO/SAE 21434, and ISO/TR 4804 (Safety and Performance Requirements for Automated Driving Systems).
Level 5: Full automation
Relevant standards include SAE J3016, ISO 26262, ISO 21448, UNECE Regulation 157, UNECE Regulation 155, ISO/SAE 21434, and ISO/TR 4804.
Where can TÜV SÜD test my autonomous driving systems?
Our testing toolchain is developed for maximum flexibility and portability. We can provide autonomous vehicle testing services on multiple international proving grounds or on customer sites. We cooperate with proving grounds in Hungary (Zalazone), Germany (Segula and Test Centre Mobility in Penzing). In addition, our global partnerships like IAMTS give us access to a huge worldwide proving ground network. This enables us to offer testing services close to you, with short-term availability of proving ground testing slots.
Should we consider ISO 26262 for approving autonomous vehicles?
ISO 26262 is the international standard for road vehicle functional safety. It addresses the risks associated with electronic and electrical systems. Regulations do not mandate ISO 26262 compliance for the approval of autonomous vehicles. However, regulatory bodies and manufacturers often require proof that rigorous safety processes have been followed.
Autonomous driving systems are complex. ISO 26262 provides a framework for ensuring systems function safely throughout their lifecycle, from design to decommissioning. We highly recommend considering ISO 26262 conformity for AV approval as it will give you robust arguments to support state-of-the-art systems development. As ISO 26262 integrates with other important standards like ISO 21448 (SOTIF) and ISO/SAE 21434 (Cybersecurity), compliance ensures safe operation. This facilitates the acceptance and adoption of autonomous driving technology and builds trust amongst stakeholders.
Autonomous driving systems are complex. ISO 26262 provides a framework for ensuring systems function safely throughout their lifecycle, from design to decommissioning. We highly recommend considering ISO 26262 conformity for AV approval as it will give you robust arguments to support state-of-the-art systems development. As ISO 26262 integrates with other important standards like ISO 21448 (SOTIF) and ISO/SAE 21434 (Cybersecurity), compliance ensures safe operation. This facilitates the acceptance and adoption of autonomous driving technology and builds trust amongst stakeholders.
