Assessment of automated vehicles with scenario-based testing

WHAT IS SCENARIO-BASED TESTING TO ASSESS AUTOMATED VEHICLES?

To achieve widespread market acceptance of autonomous vehicles (AV), manufacturers must meet regulatory requirements and be confident of their safety. AV technologies must therefore be thoroughly tested and proven. To be assured of consistent results, the testing toolchain must be at the same technological level as the AV functions. This requires an AV test regime that is smart, efficient, reliable, repeatable, accurate and precise. Modern automated driving functions can therefore only be verified by testing complex, critical and representative scenarios on a proving ground using multiple dynamic objects in a precisely controlled and repeatable testing environment.

WHY IS AV SCENARIO-BASED TESTING IMPORTANT?

Whether you are developing vehicles with AV functions; integrating your camera, LIDAR or radar-based platform; or need your sensor models verified, autonomous vehicle testing in a real-world environment is necessary. This is because it not only provides proof of the autonomous vehicle’s safety but instils trust and acceptance in the end-user that self-driving cars are safe to use on public roads. However, the verification of automated driving functions using critical and representative testing scenarios is complex and demanding as it requires a safe, fully synchronised and controlled proving ground test environment.

By conducting an assessment of your autonomous vehicles with scenario-based testing, you gain various benefits:

• Develop safe AV technologies and ensure the safety of your self-driving car functions, using our state-of-the-art autonomous vehicle testing technology, tools and methods
• Optimise your testing workflow by implementing a safe testing workflow and achieving precise and reliable results
• Prove your performance assurance and increase market acceptance by testing and verifying the performance of your AV function or sensor model
• Increase your customer trust and confidence in the capabilities of your autonomous driving functions, sensor models or test results by using TÜV SÜD’s independent third-party reports
• Be ahead of time and ready for new standards by testing your AV function under consideration of upcoming standards and directives for international homologation and type approval of SAE L3 to L5

HOW DOES A SCENARIO-BASED TEST OF AUTOMATED VEHICLES WORK?

During the test, all dynamic and static objects, such as the autonomous vehicle under test and surrounding vehicles that represent the criticality of a defined scenario, are connected by a low latency data connection. The surrounding vehicles must be able to dynamically adjust their trajectory according to the applied strategy of the vehicle under test, as modern AV functions might display non-deterministic behaviour.

TÜV SÜD VERIFIES YOUR AUTOMATED DRIVING TECHNOLOGIES WIH SCENARIO-BASED TESTING

As one of the leading experts in the field of autonomous driving technology testing, TÜV SÜD offers a turnkey service for the verification of AV functions, using scenario-based testing on the proving ground. Our AV testing approach has been developed and verified during the German government-funded project PEGASUS, a consortium of industry stakeholders focused on the assessment, verification and validation of highly automated driving systems on highways. We verify your AV function and performance using end-to-end testing with the newest physical testing technology. We also confirm that your tests are conducted correctly, and the results are reliable, representative and trustworthy.

TÜV SÜD works with top automotive OEMs and suppliers globally and has been at the cutting edge of autonomous vehicle safety and performance testing for over a century. Our TÜV SÜD experts are involved in various global projects, including our work with Singapore’s Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research of Autonomous Vehicles (CETRAN), which focuses on the ever-changing challenges of regulation development and functional safety of autonomous vehicles within urban environments. We are also a charter member of the International Alliance for Mobility Testing and Standardization (IAMTS), which aims to develop a commonly accepted framework of regulations, test scenarios, verification, validation and certification methods and terminology.

By joining several working groups, our experts are deeply involved in reworking international standards that address the homologation and type approval of AV-functions, such as the upcoming UNECE regulation for ALKS (1st SAE L3 system). Based on our international expert network and industry know-how we can support you in the safe development and global roll-out of your automated technologies.

TÜV SÜD’S SCENARIO-BASED TESTING SERVICES FOR AUTOMATED VEHICLES

TÜV SÜD provides comprehensive assessment of with scenario-based testing to help you verifying your automated driving functions with proving ground tests:

• Physical test execution – our full testing service includes scenario definition, KPI definition and evaluation, safety concept definition and test preparation, test execution, data postprocessing and reporting. Our integrated, flexible and transportable toolchain allows testing on all international proving grounds.
• Assessment of your testing workflow – we assess your testing toolchain and environment, as well as your testing capabilities and processes. Our technical assessment and improvement report includes an evaluation matrix and gap analysis.
• Partnership and licensing – by eye witnessing your tests, we assess your testing workflow and confirm tests have been executed correctly. We can add value to your test reports by approving them with a TÜV SÜD conformity declaration.
• Consulting services – we support you in realising or optimising your testing workflow, while building-up your knowledge, sustainability and efficiency of scenario-based testing.