Testing, validation and certification procedures for highly automated driving functions under various traffic scenarios based on pilot test data

Topic Description

The automotive industry commits significant efforts and resources to test and validate advanced driver assistance functions. For systems with high levels of automation, the need for testing and validation will drastically increase as a comprehensive range of driving situations and scenarios have to be considered. Current available procedures do not provide an efficient and cost-effective solution. There is a great need for a comprehensive approach to develop common procedures for testing, validation and certification for highly automated driving functions in various traffic scenarios.

Research should focus on the development of testing and validation procedures of highly automated driving functions for different use cases in various traffic scenarios, including cross-border travelling. Proposed solutions shall seek broad consensus and agreement among involved stakeholders across the value chain. Therefore, a large participation of stakeholders from industry and Member States is crucial. Data and knowledge gathered from on-going and future pilot tests across Europe should provide a sound scientific basis to define comprehensive validation procedures for highly automated driving. Data obtained by proposed actions should be made available for all manufacturers and stakeholders. Procedures for merging the real-time simulation of driving environments with real tests on complete vehicle or on one or several subsystems in parallel should be researched to reduce testing time and costs, foster the collaboration between different stakeholders and analyse complex interactions in complete sets of tests. Proposals should elaborate common criteria for model-based validation and simulation on vehicle level as well as on vehicle components, and V2X communication systems level. The consideration of new testing procedures and tools for reliable and accurate positioning as well as for cyber-security vulnerability assessment would be an asset.

Proposed actions should build on the knowledge and results of on-going projects and other initiatives addressing testing and validation procedures of highly automated driving functions as well as fully leveraging the potential of advanced services offered by EGNOS and Galileo. It will be necessary to catalogue and analyse existing procedures and parameters and to identify gaps and weaknesses and potential synergies. Proposals should look at the possibility of employing new approaches to testing and validation, for example procedures already used successfully in other sectors which could be transferred and adopted to highly automated driving functions. The development of testing and validation procedures should also take into account the needs of type approval.

In line with the Union's strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation, international cooperation is encouraged. In particular, proposals should consider cooperation with projects or partners from the US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and/or Australia. Proposals should foresee twinning with entities participating in projects funded by US DOT ^[1] to exchange knowledge and experience and exploit synergies.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 4 to 6 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Comprehensive testing, validation and certification procedures for highly automated driving functions and reliable and accurate positioning to pave the way for accelerated implementation of highly automated vehicles across Europe. New testing procedures and tools for cyber-security vulnerability assessment to secure connected and automated vehicles from manipulation and threats to guarantee safe operations.

Common criteria for model-based validation and simulation on vehicle, vehicle components, and V2X communication systems level to support harmonisation and standardisation for homologation processes.

International cooperation

[1]United States Department of Transportation.