he National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 94% of traffic accidents are caused by driver error and the leading cause of these is recognition mistakes.1 Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) can help decrease accidents, injuries, and fatalities by reducing these errors using electronic technologies. In fact, ADAS is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the automotive industry, with expectations that the ADAS market will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6% by 2027.2
ADAS are designed to increase the safety of vehicles by assisting motorists with driving and parking functions. They use automated technology, such as sensors, cameras, software, lighting, and audio components to detect obstacles and errors, then respond accordingly. ADAS technologies can range from passive to active, alerting drivers to problems, implementing safeguards, and/or taking control of the vehicle.
Passive systems simply give an alert but require the driver to act. Examples might be systems that make noises or vibrate when an object, such as another vehicle or pedestrian, is sensed in a blind spot or as the car drifts into another lane without a turn signal activated. With the warning, the driver needs to take corrective action. On the other hand, active ADAS not only sense the danger, but also automatically activate the required corrective action, such as emergency braking when an obstruction is sensed.
While the systems today are becoming more sophisticated and widely adopted, the general concept of ADAS is not new. The roots of ADAS go back nearly 70 years to anti-lock braking systems (ABS), and today include blind spot information systems, 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings, traction control, night vision, adaptive lights, collision warning, parking assistance and more. As technology quickly evolves and the industry increasingly moves toward autonomous vehicles, the possibilities for ADAS seem limitless.
Testing ADAS systems involves exposing a vehicle to situations that trigger the system to intervene, then measuring the outcome to assess system performance. An example of this might be using a mannequin to simulate a pedestrian to test whether the ADAS triggers emergency braking or using simulated cars to determine if collision warning or parking assistance systems are functioning as intended. The testing is monitored, and variables are controlled to ensure the consistent, repeatable application of each test method. Additionally, factors such as weather, dirt, or less optimal road conditions (i.e., lane line deterioration or potholes) can be added to the testing to ensure that the ADAS system goes beyond requirements and provides more robust, usable results.
ADAS system testing provides valuable data that can be used for a variety of needs: validation to OEM standards and requirements, benchmarking to establish design baselines, R&D information, and data for ratings from organizations or programs like IIHS or NCAP. These insights can be quite significant for this increasingly used technology. For example, testing during the R&D and validation phase can help to reduce system redesigns and even the number of formal qualification tests required. Benchmark testing can assess the performance of systems being offered by many manufacturers to set performance requirements and goals. And for programs like NCAP or IIHS, preliminary testing can reduce formal testing and speed up compliance and time to market. The testing can vary from basic (monitoring velocity, direction, location, and response) to intermediate (basic with the addition of audio/video recording) to advanced (adds the capture of the vehicle bus messages for a complete understanding of vehicle behavior and intended response).
Here are some of the benefits of each assessment approach:
- Laboratory testing allows for rigorous testing in a highly controlled environment. Engineers can evaluate products for safety, interoperability, functionality, connectivity, overall performance, and controlled environmental exposure to elements such as ultraviolet (UV) light, dust, water intrusion, and more.
- On-road testing uses real-world conditions (including unexpected and random situations) to subject systems to elements like weather, geography, light, infrastructure, obstacles, human activity, and more. Road tests can assess ADAS over an extended period, providing a realistic view of lifespan and functionality.
- Proving ground analysis evaluates products on the road, in a predictable, safe, controlled, and repeatable setting. This method ensures specific elements are included in the evaluation, such as direct sunlight, weather conditions, tunnels, on-ramps, and other potential obstacles. Testing can be configured to duplicate real-world environments and applications, depending on the design and capability of the proving ground.
- Inertial measurement systems capable of real-time kinematics, or RTK: These are used to assess things like speed, position, force, angular rate, and orientation. Because data needs to be pulled as the car is in motion and as systems are reacting, real-time kinematics are important for accuracy.
- Guided soft targets: Used to simulate other cars, guided soft targets are self-propelled platforms and aerodynamically stable. However, because they are “soft” targets, when they come into contact with a vehicle, they will break apart and not cause damage to the test car and on-board systems.
- Other soft targets: Used to simulate people (both adults and children) who are moving or static, as well as bicycles and other obstacles. They replicate the size, shape, and, when needed, the motion of the object to assist in evaluating the response to encountering these objects.
- Driving robots: Driving robots, such as steering robots, pedal robots, provide repeatable, accurate control of the vehicle and use RTK for speed and position corrections for accurate path following. The use of robots versus humans allows for multiple evaluations with less variability to factors like speed, control, path, angles, and impact.
- Controller Area Network (CAN) decoding/recording equipment: CAN equipment allows for communication, data gathering, and recording without a host computer. Commonly used for in-vehicle communications since the 1980s, it provides low-cost, lightweight networks for the communication of data and information.
- Additional rear-vehicle targets: Simulates items such as buildings, lighting, signs, and other obstacles a car may encounter in reverse.
- Various road and intersection types: Used to assess systems such as AEB, blind-spot detection, and testing for intersections and traffic jams. These include different surfaces and speeds to ensure more comprehensive data.
- Different test environments: Varying environments, such as parking lots, highways, traffic jams, cities, rural roads, and more, are important to assess various systems such as AEB, parking assistance, lane keep/centering, customized tests, and more.
ADAS testing begins with preliminary set up and practice days, which can be beneficial for reducing downtime and completing the tests in a time-efficient manner. At this stage, engineers can map test surfaces and create different routes to ensure that the necessary test environments, lane configurations, and test targets are accounted for.
After this preliminary stage, testing can be completed. It may take a few days to gather all the necessary data, especially if the test plan includes a combination of lab evaluations and on-road/proving ground analysis. Test set up and completion could also take time, especially as simulations are conducted. As with any testing, it is important to be prepared for the reality that test runs, data collection, compilation, and analysis can be a lengthy process. In the end, though, the information provided is invaluable in ensuring the quality, performance, and safety of ADAS and the vehicles where they are present.
Knowing what information is needed and how to find it, then partnering with experienced, knowledgeable engineers to prepare and execute a test plan, can help provide valuable information for R&D, benchmarking, marketing, regulatory purposes, and more. Safer ADAS can mean safer vehicles and safer transportation for everyone.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts, https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812115.
- Globe Newswire, May 6, 2021, “Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Market Size Worth Around US$ 142 bn by 2027,” https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/05/06/2225177/0/en/Advanced-Driver-Assistance-System-ADAS-Market-Size-Worth-Around-US-142-bn-by-2027.html.