Testing is Critical for the Adoption of Software-Defined Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) promise to revolutionize transportation by significantly reducing traffic accidents, improving mobility, and enabling new business models. However, the path to widespread adoption is complex and fraught with technical, regulatory, and societal challenges. Central to overcoming these barriers is rigorous, system-level testing and validation. This white paper explores the critical role of testing in the development and deployment of AVs, particularly as the industry transitions toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

Human error accounts for approximately 94% of serious traffic accidents, highlighting the potential safety benefits of AVs. Yet, public trust remains a major hurdle. According to a 2024 AAA survey, 66% of U.S. drivers are afraid to ride in fully autonomous vehicles, with an additional 25% expressing uncertainty. This persistent apprehension underscores the need for transparent, comprehensive testing to validate AV safety and reliability.

The evolution toward SDVs is transforming the automotive landscape. In SDVs, core vehicle functions—such as braking, steering, infotainment, and driver assistance—are increasingly controlled by software. This shift enables over-the-air (OTA) updates, continuous feature enhancements, and personalized user experiences. It also introduces new complexities in system integration, cybersecurity, and lifecycle management, all of which demand robust testing methodologies.

AVs rely on a combination of advanced sensors (cameras, radar, ultrasonic), high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication to perceive and respond to their environment. Sensor fusion integrates data from these sources to create a real-time, 360-degree model of the vehicle’s surroundings. This complexity requires validation across a wide range of scenarios, including rare and dangerous edge cases that are difficult to encounter in real-world testing alone.

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines six levels of driving automation, from Level 0 (no automation) to Level 5 (full automation under all conditions). While Levels 2 and 3 are already being deployed in consumer vehicles, Levels 4 and 5 represent the ultimate goal of full autonomy. Level 4 vehicles operate autonomously within a defined operational design domain (ODD), such as specific routes or weather conditions. Level 5 vehicles must handle all driving tasks in any environment, a challenge that requires unprecedented levels of system robustness and adaptability.

Testing strategies must evolve to meet these demands. Traditional road testing, while valuable, is insufficient on its own. Controlled test tracks and virtual simulations are essential for exposing AVs to a broader range of conditions in a cost-effective and repeatable manner. Simulation environments allow developers to test millions of miles of driving scenarios, including edge cases, without the risks and limitations of physical testing.

The concept of “TestOps”—integrating testing throughout the development pipeline—is becoming a cornerstone of SDV development. This approach emphasizes continuous validation using both software-in-the-loop (SiL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) environments. It ensures that testing is not a final step, but an ongoing process embedded in every phase of development.

Regulatory standards also play a vital role in ensuring AV safety. ISO 26262 addresses functional safety for automotive electronics, while UNECE regulations R155 and R156 mandate cybersecurity and software update management systems, respectively. These frameworks are becoming global benchmarks, influencing not only automakers but also their suppliers.

Ultimately, the success of autonomous vehicles depends not only on technological innovation but also on the industry's ability to demonstrate safety and reliability through transparent and comprehensive testing. Keysight Technologies supports this mission by providing advanced test and validation solutions tailored to the unique challenges of AV and SDV development. By enabling continuous, system-level testing across both physical and virtual environments, Keysight empowers automotive innovators to accelerate development, reduce risk, and build public trust in autonomous mobility.