ADAS Vehicle Testing With Dynamometer-Robot State Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for vehicles with AD/ADAS systems has led to a rise in testing steps, which are hindered by manpower shortages due to declining birthrates and aging populations, making automation of vehicle tests difficult without a system that can seamlessly transfer driver operations to AD/ADAS operations.

Innovation Solution

A test specimen testing system that integrates a dynamometer and an autonomous driving robot to link active and passive traveling states, allowing the robot to perform brake, accelerator, and steering operations, reducing the need for human intervention in passive states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a human operator performs all driving operations during testing, then the test can cover various driving scenarios, but the testing process requires extensive manpower and time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting efficiencyVSAvoiddevelopment period
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the driving operations into two distinct modes: active traveling state where the AD/ADAS system operates autonomously, and passive traveling state where a human operator performs manual operations. This segmentation allows each mode to be optimized independently, with automation handling routine tasks and human operators intervening only when necessary

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a control system as an intermediary that coordinates between the AD/ADAS system and the human operator. This control system manages the transition between active and passive traveling states, enabling seamless collaboration between automated and manual operations without requiring full human involvement throughout the entire testing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the number of testing steps is increased to thoroughly test AD/ADAS functions, then testing completeness improves, but the complexity of the testing system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting completenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a multi-functional testing system where the same test platform can execute multiple testing steps by dynamically switching between active and passive traveling states. The control system enables a single system to perform both autonomous testing and manual operation testing, eliminating the need for separate dedicated systems for each testing scenario

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If manual operation is used for passive traveling state, then the test specimen can be controlled precisely, but human intervention is required which reduces automation level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidautomation level
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching between active traveling state (automated AD/ADAS control) and passive traveling state (manual human operation). This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to different testing requirements in real-time, maintaining high automation levels while preserving the ability to perform precise manual operations when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4597068A1Test specimen testing system, test specimen testing method, and test specimen testing program
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 HORIBA LTD
  • EP4597068A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4597068A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4597068A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to reduce the number of testing steps of a vehicle having an autonomous driving system or an advanced driver-assistance system and to enable shortening of the development period of the vehicle, and the present invention is a test specimen testing system 100 for testing a test specimen W that is a vehicle or a part of the vehicle having the ADAS or the AD, including: a dynamometer 2 for causing the test specimen W to perform simulation traveling; a surrounding environment input device 3 that inputs a surrounding environment to the test specimen W; and an autonomous driving robot 4 that performs a brake operation, an accelerator operation, or a steering wheel operation of the test specimen W. Based on an input from the surrounding environment input device 3, test specimen testing system 100 links, using the autonomous driving robot, an active traveling state in which the test specimen W actively travels by the ADAS or the AD and a passive traveling state in which the test specimen W passively travels by the brake operation, the accelerator operation, or the steering wheel operation.