The ‘SET Level 4to5’ research project has been established to develop a platform for simulation-based development and testing of automated vehicles, using the CarMaker simulation software. The project aims at use cases such as automated car-sharing or pooling, to fully automated people mover or delivery services, with automation levels 4 and 5.
The development and especially the testing of vehicles with automation levels 4 and 5 pose a big challenge for engineers. The project SET Level 4to5 (simulation-based developing and testing of level 4 and 5 systems) is intended to lay the foundation for efficient testing in the course of development with simulation-based methods and tools, enabling evaluation of automated vehicles in complex traffic situations. CarMaker, the simulation software from IPG Automotive, is supporting the project with the integration of sensor models and driving functions.
Level 4 vehicles are able to drive by themselves for most of a journey, even in urban areas, with the driver having the option to manually override. If the vehicle can drive through traffic by itself, without intervention through steering or pedals by the driver being possible, the vehicle is then a level 5 vehicle. Advances have been made in the design and development of automated driving functions over the past few years, but releasing and registering these vehicles requires an adequate legal framework and further extensive tests. Simulations are, in this context, an adequate tool to speed up the development process and control costs.
In the SET Level 4to5 research project, partners from industry and science are cooperating to find practical solutions and prepare standardisation activities, with the aim of creating an open, flexible and easily extendable platform that supports simulation-based analysis and simulation-based testing of level 4 and 5 vehicles in urban traffic situations.
“The focal point of our work in this research project is to demonstrate the feasibility of a simulation-based development process, to participate in standardisation activities and to ensure models can be interchanged between suppliers and OEMs,” stated Marina Liebich, junior business development manager for ADAS & automated driving at IPG Automotive.
The advancement of simulation-based methods and tools provides the groundwork for effective testing in the course of development, creating a reliable evaluation method for automated vehicles in complex traffic situations. The aim is to provide a basis for verification and validation, as well as the release and registration of automated level 4 and 5 vehicles.
The project SET Level 4to5 builds on the results of the PEGASUS research project, which focused on testing level 3 automated driving functions on highways.
