Dual-Cockpit HIL Test Bench for Realistic Autonomous Vehicle Validation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for autonomous vehicle testing, such as hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, and simulator-in-the-loop, fail to effectively simulate real-world scenarios involving a driver under test, a trained safety driver, and an autonomous system operating simultaneously, and do not adequately address the need for adaptive testing of various vehicle components from different suppliers.
Innovation Solution
A dual-cockpit testbench design that allows a trained safety driver to monitor and correct the driver under test and the autonomous system, incorporating physical and virtual components, enabling comprehensive testing of production, prototype, and virtual components in actual or virtual environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtual environments are used for autonomous vehicle testing, then testing coverage can be expanded, but real-world behavior validation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines virtual environment simulation with physical hardware-in-the-loop testing to create a comprehensive testbench. Virtual vehicles and environments provide broad testing coverage while physical vehicle components ensure real-world behavior validation, resolving the contradiction between expanded testing coverage and reliable real-world validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The testbench acts as an intermediary system that bridges virtual simulations and physical vehicle testing. It includes a virtual vehicle that interfaces with physical vehicle hardware, allowing test scenarios to be executed in a controlled environment while maintaining connection to real-world vehicle behavior through the hardware-in-the-loop architecture.
2Reliability
If hardware-in-the-loop testing is used, then real-world behavior can be validated, but testing flexibility and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The testbench employs dynamic reconfiguration capabilities where virtual components can be modified or replaced without changing the physical hardware setup. The system can dynamically adjust test scenarios, virtual environment parameters, and vehicle configurations to accommodate different testing needs while maintaining hardware-in-the-loop validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The testbench is designed as a universal platform that can test multiple vehicle components (steering, braking, propulsion) and support various autonomous driving scenarios. The virtual vehicle model can represent different vehicle types and configurations, allowing the same physical testbench to validate real-world behavior across diverse testing requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vehicle components from different suppliers are tested, then component compatibility can be verified, but testbench complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The testbench architecture segments vehicle components into modular virtual representations that can be independently configured and tested. Each vehicle component (steering system, braking system, propulsion system) can be represented as a separate virtual component, allowing systematic compatibility verification while managing complexity through structured organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages component compatibility by parameterizing virtual vehicle models with configurable specifications. Different supplier components are tested by adjusting parameters in the virtual model to match the physical component characteristics, enabling compatibility verification without requiring complete reconfiguration of the testbench for each component variation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods described herein relate to using multimodal foundation models. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a vehicular testbench capable of operating physical and virtual vehicular components, receiving a test plan for a set of vehicular components, determining testbench components and testbench connections including any virtual components to implement the test plan on the vehicular testbench, generating the virtual components to perform the test plan, and implementing the testbench connections to enable testing of the vehicular components.