Autonomous Drive Emulation (ADE)

The forecast for connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) remains optimistic. However, those predictions are dependent on unshakable confidence in the minds of consumers, regulators and the insurance industry. Building confidence in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) means hundreds of millions of miles of road testing—actual or simulated—to fully explore corner cases and thoroughly validate new designs.

More testing, done sooner, enhances ADAS performance

Today, software-based simulation systems are being used to develop and test ADAS functionality. However, traditional integration- and system-level tests cannot ensure proper ADAS operation under real-world conditions. Further, these tests are usually performed late in the development process, making design changes costly and time-consuming, and potentially delaying start of production (SOP).

Staying on track with your target SOP date starts with higher-level scenario testing performed earlier in the development process, ideally with minimal use of scarce and costly prototype vehicles. Detailed emulation of real-world conditions enables thorough debugging and troubleshooting of complete subsystems long before vehicles take to the road.

Utilize real test scenarios in a complete virtual environment

Working in collaboration, Keysight Technologies, IPG Automotive and Nordsys have created a highly realistic, lab-based solution for the testing of multi-sensor systems. Through time-synchronized, closed-loop testing, the Autonomous Drive Emulation (ADE) platform complements traditional open-loop testing of individual modules and components.

Highly Realistic Testing Can Now Be Done in the Lab

Open-loop, single-unit testing is certainly necessary, but it cannot test the whole system (e.g., the vehicle). The crucial complement is time-synchronized testing of complete sensor subsystems. Using detailed simulations and a closed-loop approach, this method exercises sensors, electronic control units (ECUs), and AI algorithms as an integrated whole.

As implemented in the Keysight ADE solution, a real-time 3D engine creates a virtual environment that includes two essential capabilities: full-motion video to test camera subsystems; and dynamic signal emulation to exercise radar subsystems. For further realism, the congestion-testing capability produces 5G-based C-V2X scenarios that emulate real-world driving situations.

Because ADE is an open platform, it simplifies integration with a wide range of commercial 3D modelers, hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) systems, and existing test-and-simulation environments.

Rendering the virtual environment

Software from IPG Automation allows for the transfer of real test scenarios, including the entire environment, into a virtual world rendered with a high level of detail. This powerful, real-timecapable modeling technology synchronizes with Keysight test hardware that creates physical-layer signals for realistic testing in a lab setting.

Adding congestion scenarios

Nordsys adds software-controlled applications focused on V2X communications to emulate the RF congestion that occurs in real-life traffic situations. For example, Nordsys WaveBEE Creator simplifies the development of scenarios that include hundreds of vehicles traveling on multi-lane roads. To further test congestion algorithms, you can add a power profile that accounts for details such as distance and periodicity. And, for maximum realism, you can add security certificates to every vehicle in the simulation.

Locking in time synchronization

Keysight adds tightly controlled synchronization between the HiL controller, the rendering software, and signal generators and signal analyzers. To help you fully exercise ADAS components, software and systems, our detailed signal simulations include GNSS, V2X, radar, and LIDAR.