Mechanical and plant engineering firm Dürr, and electronics company Rodhe & Schwarz have joined forces to address the challenge of ensuring road safety for automated and autonomous vehicles (AVs).
These vehicles heavily rely on sensors such as cameras and radar for decision making in traffic situations, making it imperative to thoroughly test the functionality and interaction of these sensors.
The two companies have developed a solution for over-the-air (OTA) vehicle-in-the-loop (VIL) testing. It is designed for end-of-line (EOL) testing or periodical technical inspection (PTI), aiming to validate conformity and effectiveness.
The joint project will see the integration of Dürr’s patented x-road curve multifunction roll test stand, into Rodhe & Schwarz’s new RadEsT radar target simulator and open-source simulation platform CARLA. This combination is designed to create a virtual environment tailored for camera and radar sensors in the test vehicle, enabling OTA simulation of various inspection scenarios without physical vehicle manipulation.
In the context of increasing automation and autonomy in vehicles, maintaining the proper functionality of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) features is needed for long-term safety and performance. Vehicle manufacturers need certification to ensure these features operate correctly.
A VIL test can validate the operation of all ADAS/AD functions in the EOL and ensure conformity of production (COP) before vehicles leave the factory. Additionally, ongoing control measures during PTI are essential to maintain functionality throughout a vehicle’s lifespan.
The joint solution, according to both companies, allows for the simulation of critical driving situations such as unintended lane departures and sudden braking or lane changes by other vehicles. The test vehicle must react promptly to these changes, potentially activating automated lane-keeping systems (ALKS) or advanced emergency braking systems (AEBS) to pass inspection.
Dürr’s patented x-road curve facilitates unrestricted driving with steering movements, aiming to ensure precise cornering maneuvers without altering the test vehicle’s position. Rohde & Schwarz’s RadEsT radar target simulator is designed to provide precise and repeatable measurements for accurate assessments in production and workshop environments.
The open-source platform CARLA aims to enable easy generation of test scenarios and has recently upgraded to Unreal Engine 5, which is expected to further improve modeling, simulation realism and performance.
By combining these technologies, Dürr and Rohde & Schwarz aim to provide a solution for evaluating the full functionality of automated vehicles and AVs.
