Automotive Industry Insights

Possible impact of the study group and defined test strategy blueprint

1. The blueprint of the strategy can be used to argue residual risk estimations, performed scenarios, and considered weaknesses and mitigations
   The aforementioned objective to achieve coverage of all hazardous scenarios is obviously rooted in the need to estimate the residual risk and to evaluate whether the achieved values can be accepted. A test strategy blueprint that links hazard analyzes and exploration of scenarios with the verification of analysis results and effectivity of implemented risk mitigation measures is one key element to achieving the goal of an evaluation of residual risks.

 

2. A testing strategy blueprint defined by the study group can serve as basis for an assessment of OEM-/Tier-1-specific test strategies
   As outlined above, the verification and validation challenge for automated driving is also rooted in the fact that different tests, which make use of different methods and Test Environments, are interdependent: the full strength of the verification and validation evidence and argument can only be unfolded if the various results make reference to each other. A testing strategy blueprint might show the most relevant types of interrelation. It might thus serve as a basis for setting up a verification and validation strategy at OEM or Tier-1, as well as a basis for assessments and release.

 

3. The different methods in the test strategy can be reviewed in different ways: document review, witness testing, or retest at technical service
   The assessment of the test activities and test results produced in terms of agreement with the verification and validation strategy, as well as requirements from standards and regulations, will probably require several approaches. These approaches (very much similar to the test methods themselves) have to trade off effort and depth of investigation. On the low-effort end, document reviews might be used to confirm that, for example, passed test results are truly confirming safety and failed tests have been properly fed back into the development cycle. For deeper insight into the tests performed, witnessed tests are especially valuable in case very specific and specialized test equipment is required. To achieve fully independent confirmation of test results on the high-effort end, a fully independent retest performed by a technical service might complete the range of confirmation of the test activities.