Collaborating on hardware-in-the-loop validation of automotive radar sensors

Rohde & Schwarz and Vector Informatik collaborate on closed-loop scenario testing of automotive radar sensors for ADAS and AD. Linking the DYNA4 virtual test drive simulation platform from Vector with the latest Rohde & Schwarz radar moving object stimulation system facilitates powerful verification of safety-critical ADAS functions. These incorporate emergency braking in an integrated hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) environment.

The system setup comprises the Vector DYNA4 virtual test drive software, which offers the environment simulation and the user interface for scenario configuration and test execution, and the company's radar test system, which produces dynamic artificial objects for the radar sensor under test based on ASAM OSI object lists performed in the DYNA4 environment simulation software. Vector CANoe receives the radar sensor's bus output signals with the objects identified by the radar, and the software then analyses and visualises them. The detected objects are also compared with the simulated ground truth.

The radar test system includes the R&S AREG800A automotive radar echo generator as the digital backend and the R&S QAT100 advanced antenna array as the frontend. The solution presents a completely new world of possibilities for testing radar-enabled ADAS features and assures the safety of autonomous driving functions in HiL setups. Innovative antenna array technology enables complex artificial objects to be generated for the radar sensors at different distances and with variable radial velocity, object size and angular direction. Antennas and test equipment do not require be moved physically. A responsive and dedicated HiL interface that conforms to the ASAM open simulation interface specification enables realistic OTA stimulation of radar sensors with challenging, complex and even risky driving scenarios. The radar test system is future-proof due to a modular and scalable concept. As well as providing standard radar-based ADAS feature tests such as ACC and AEB scenarios, the system can be simply upgraded to cover advanced test cases. It can evolve to satisfy the complexity of future scenarios – an essential step on the way to autonomous driving.

Combining the best of simulation and OTA radar stimulation is a notable step forward. The combination speeds the development of ADAS features. It allows users to reliably and realistically test ADAS/AD features and master complex validation processes in a completely controllable and representative environment.