New automated testing solutions available for Euro NCAP’s new heavy vehicle protocols

AB Dynamics has introduced a new suite of updates to help OEMs and testing firms to reduce testing time and complexity for heavy vehicles. As part of its track applications suite, an expansion in its special groups library now includes 400 new Euro NCAP heavy vehicle test scenarios. When used with driving robots, targets and other equipment from AB Dynamics, the creation, set-up, variation, execution and verification of test protocols can be automated.

Dr Andrew Pick, director of track testing at AB Dynamics said: “The introduction of new industry-standard test scenarios is good news for the continued improvement in road safety but it does place a significant resource burden on OEMs and test houses. Our latest track applications suite update addresses these challenges by automating complex calculations and synchronisation tasks that would otherwise demand hours of manual preparation, improving the efficiency of testing for the industry."

To ensure truck safety is standardised and transparent, Euro NCAP has introduced new truck safety ratings. Advanced driver-assistance systems require complex scenarios to imitate real-world conditions. This includes sequences like the heavy goods bicycle nearside turn across path. The test involves an HGV travelling at a consistent speed before cutting across the path of a bicycle. Using the updated track application suite combined with driving robots the accuracy and repeatability of this manoeuvre can be controlled to improve testing standards. This would remove the amount of input required from a driver with their only responsibility being to accelerate up to speed then hand over to the driving robots. 

Dr Pick said: “As the quantity and complexity of testing continues to increase, our integrated solution for active safety testing empowers engineers to focus on innovation and technology development, rather than test setup.”

The new Euro NCAP heavy vehicle testing includes ADAS testing in more challenging scenarios to assess real-world performance. This kind of testing requires precise steering inputs at the correct time, variables which can be controlled automatically with AB Dynamics’ updated software.