The virtual test bench for automotive testing presented by Fraunhofer at Embedded World 2024 is designed to validate autonomous driving functionality. Benedict L. Wiles from the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering demonstrated how the platform can simulate various scenarios to assess the performance and reliability of autonomous systems.

In the demonstration, Benedict and his colleague, Stefan, took on the role of testing engineers to simulate an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system. They uploaded a new version of the ACC and ran automated tests at different speeds: 40, 60, and 80 km/h. The goal was to ensure that the updated ACC maintained quality and safety standards. As the tests progressed, the results revealed that the ACC worked well at 40 km/h, even when faced with erratic braking by other vehicles.

However, during the 80 km/h test, a mistake occurred, indicating a potential issue with the new version of the ACC. This triggered an interactive debugging phase to identify and correct the problem. The heart of the virtual test bench is the FAL co-simulation framework, which connects various models for sensors, actors, and driving functions. This framework allows for communication between different tools, overcoming the typical limitations of heterogeneous systems.

The FAL co-simulation framework simulates a virtual CAN bus, enabling different components to communicate as if they were in a real vehicle. This flexibility is a significant advantage over traditional hardware testing, as it allows for rapid iteration and reduces the costs associated with hardware setups. Additionally, the framework's noise injector feature helps test the system's resilience to errors by introducing random data into the CAN bus.

As the tests continued, the framework's ability to recover from stress and its resilience to errors were put to the test. The noise injector showed how excessive noise in the system could affect the ACC's performance, leading to issues like weakened braking and reduced message throughput. This kind of testing is crucial in identifying potential safety risks before deploying autonomous systems in real vehicles.

The advantages of virtual testing are significant. It not only saves time and reduces costs but also minimizes the risks associated with hardware-based testing. Benedict emphasized that a crash in the virtual environment is far less dangerous and costly than one in the real world. Furthermore, virtual testing allows for greater flexibility and independence from specific hardware vendors, providing a more adaptable solution for automotive testing.

Fraunhofer's virtual test bench is already in use by tier-one suppliers and continues to be developed. It has the potential to play a significant role in advancing the automotive industry's transition to virtual testing, offering a more efficient and cost-effective approach to testing autonomous driving systems.

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