The volume and complexity of vehicle testing for assessments and approvals are expanding rapidly, causing concern for the industry. To find out how it is coping with the burgeoning test workload, we spoke to Wesley Hulshof, Senior Applications Engineer responsible for overseeing the growth of the testing service division within the AB Dynamics group.
What is driving the increased test workload?
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Vehicle testing is expanding rapidly, placing increasing pressures on manufacturers. For example, in 2014, the Euro NCAP assessment included 6 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) test scenarios, in 2020 it is now 39, an increase of 650%.
On top of this, there is a clear drive to make our roads safer and this is being rightly pushed by governments and safety assessment and certification bodies. By 2022 many advanced driver assistance systems will be made mandatory for all new cars in 40 countries. As a result, this necessitates the need for complex safety technologies to be adapted by vehicles at all price levels.
Although manufacturers will largely use the same ADAS technologies across their product portfolio, the operational limits may vary, or functionality increased for higher end models, so each individual model needs to be tested. Not just by the manufacturer but also the certification agencies. Therefore, vehicle testing and assessment is becoming increasingly complex, requiring more resources than ever before and this trend is likely to continue as the various test scenarios continue to evolve.
What are the most challenging types of tests to carry out?
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By GlobalDataSwarm testing environments that require the accurate control of seven, eight or more vehicles and targets, all synchronized in their movements, are the most demanding. These tests are becoming increasingly common as they are essential for developing Autonomous Driving technologies and training networks and algorithms. This type of test requires a significant investment in testing equipment, and choreographing the individual scenarios can be incredibly complex. Such a combination of requirements can quickly overload a company's existing resources and knowledge, so access to a well proven source of additional capability on a fixed term basis can be incredibly helpful.
Has this increase in testing quantity and complexity just been driven by safety?
Safety and the move towards autonomous technologies has certainly been the biggest factor. However, a lot of our customers are trying to combat this by automating other areas of vehicle testing to help free up resource.
For example, some durability testing is so physically arduous that drivers are limited to an hour per day. Using driving robots, these tests can be carried out 24 hours a day. Another example is brake development. Pedal feel assessment has traditionally been subjective, relying largely on driver input. Braking robots enable objective testing and competitor benchmarking to take place. This can save a lot of time and resource to divert to other areas of vehicle testing.
Who has been most affected by the increasing complexity and quantity of vehicle testing?
The issue is affecting the whole industry. Whether it is major vehicle manufacturers and test laboratories seeking additional resources to cope with peaks in testing demand, or start-up companies without the necessary test equipment or expertise.
The issue has particularly hit smaller companies. They will often only have a limited need for testing, perhaps for a stand-alone project. As a result, it is difficult to justify the investment in the variety of test equipment needed. Likewise, hiring personnel with the essential expertise could be expensive for the amount of testing taking place.
How has AB Dynamics responded?
We believe that this trend for increasingly complex vehicle testing will only increase. As we work directly with vehicle manufacturers and safety assessment bodies around the world, we are uniquely placed to help our customers. As such, we have recently launched a new testing service division that aims to provide expertise, resource and equipment. The division offers consultancy, training or even the completion of physical testing. This will enable some customers to carry out testing that they wouldn't have been able to previously and others to meet strict deadlines.
We can provide a 'turn up and test' service, supplying and operating the test objects only, or, if preferred, control the entire scenario on a customer-supplied test vehicle. This might involve the use of ADAS test targets and equipment compliant with current NCAP, NHTSA and UNECE protocols, AD scenario control and drive-by-wire or fully driverless vehicle testing.
