Hexagon has introduced Virtual Test Drive X (VTDx), a new cloud-native solution to test, train and validate ADAS and autonomous vehicle systems. It uses hyperscale computing and automation to automatically validate the quality and function of software against thousands of real-world scenarios, accelerating the time-to-market for mobility innovations.
Software plays a critical role in vehicle design, but software-defined vehicles (SDVs) are putting more pressure on automotive teams developing ADAS features. Increasing complexity with components such as sensors, chips and OS delay vehicle development. VTDx addresses this with a comprehensive consumption-based service that makes it easier to scale up virtual prototyping to mitigate the delays, high cost and safety issues associated with physical testing.
The Software as a Service (SaaS) is built from the bottom up to use the cloud computing power and automation of Hexagon’s Nexus digital reality platform. This helps software teams build rigorous testing into their continuous test and integration workflows for ADAS and autonomous vehicle systems.
Via a web interface, ADAS engineers can create and configure their systems under test (SUTs), such as ADAS algorithms. They can validate their SUTs with accurate physics-based simulations from Hexagon’s environment simulation engine, which leverages the company’s 15 years of expertise. When developers run a test, VTDx executes the OpenDrive and OpenScenario standard-compliant software-in-the-loop (SIL) test. Using tens of thousands of simulations, companies can significantly reduce configuration and computing time for their standardized SIL test programs.
VTDx also offers continuous integration and testing (CI/CT), seamless workflow integration, ease of use and scalability, cloud availability, and accessibility.
Hexagon says the VTDx has been well received by its automotive OEM and Tier 1 customer base due to its intuitive high-productivity user experience, hands-off automation of thousands of code-test simulations and the provision of consumption-based pricing. It was developed in close collaboration with the Microsoft Azure team, realizes photorealistic visualization via the Unreal Engine, and provides full support for the ASAM-maintained OpenScenario and OpenDrive standards.
“We embarked on a journey to build our cloud-based ADAS simulation software from the ground up with CI/CT processes in mind, addressing the software development challenges our automotive customers face today,” said Mahesh Kailasam, general manager of Hexagon’s manufacturing intelligence division. “Whether aiming to increase test coverage, shorten test cycles or automate workflows, our VTDx solution offers significant benefits.”