Vehicle Control System Testing Using Stimulus-Response Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional testing methods for complex control systems in automated vehicles fail to meet high demands for testing coverage, leading to inadequate evaluation of sensor, actuator, and control logic performance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving sending stimuli to sensors and actuators, reading reactions, and comparing them using a metric module to evaluate deviations from expected responses, allowing for detailed functional testing and evaluation of control systems, including vehicles and robots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional testing methods are used for complex control systems, then the testing process is simple and manageable, but the testing coverage is insufficient and cannot meet high demands
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system is segmented into multiple independent modules including stimulus generation module, reaction reading module, metric module, and evaluation module. Each module handles a specific aspect of the testing process, allowing the complex testing task to be divided into manageable components while achieving comprehensive testing coverage through coordinated operation of all modules
Solution Approach 2:
The metric module serves as an intermediary between the reaction reading module and the evaluation module. It processes raw reaction data, compares it with expected reactions, and generates meaningful evaluation metrics. This intermediary layer enables detailed functional analysis without requiring direct complex interactions between all system components
2Reliability
If multiple driving trials are conducted to evaluate control system behavior, then testing coverage increases, but the time and resources required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Expected reactions are pre-defined and stored in the metric module before actual testing begins. This preliminary preparation allows for immediate comparison with actual system reactions during testing, eliminating the need for extensive post-test analysis and reducing overall testing time while maintaining comprehensive evaluation coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical multiple driving trials with a virtual testing approach using simulated stimuli and reactions. The stimulus generation module creates controlled test scenarios, and the metric module evaluates system responses against expected outcomes, substituting time-consuming real-world driving trials with faster computational simulations that achieve equivalent or superior testing coverage
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device for the functional testing and evaluation of a control system. The method for functional testing of sensors, actuators, and/or a control logic system of a control system controlled in at least a partly automated manner has the following: sending at least one stimulus to a sensor, an actuator, and/or to the control logic system of the control system; reading out at least one reaction of the control system from the sensor, from the actuator, from the control logic system, and/or from a connection between these components; and using a metric module to compare the reaction with a stored expected reaction, the metric module determining a metric according to which deviations of the read-out reaction from the expected reaction are to be evaluated with respect to the intended function of the control system.