S P E C I A L : S O F T W A R E 4 7
Driving Cube
N O . 1 2 0 2 3
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GREAT LEAPS FORWARD
Vehicles on today’s market generally offer Level 2 or Level 2+
ADAS systems. Since 2022, Mercedes has been the first automobile
manufacturer to provide an approved Level 3 offering in
which the driver is allowed to turn away from traffic. However,
the driver must be able to take over immediately at any time
based on a system request.
A key point: From Level 3, the manufacturer and not the driver
is now liable if the vehicle veers off the right path while the
system is still activated. This is a significant leap toward fully
autonomous driving (Level 5). The GSR2 (General Safety Regulation)
directive, which has been in effect since July, has brought
a “strong industry boost,” says ADAS/AD expert Andrea Conti.
More use cases for Level 3 are expected soon, once the legal
framework is in place. OEMs are feverishly preparing for it with
tests. In the truck sector, Level 4 functions are already within
reach, which could allow entire fleets to drive autonomously
24/7 on highways.
“according to a holistic model,” explains
Conti. AVL develops, simulates,
and tests new ADAS/AD
solutions, drawing on unique expertise
in the interaction of sensors,
actuators, and vehicles. This
is not just about theoretical input,
but mainly about getting the solutions
on the road – the spectrum
ranges from interface management
with other components to preparation
for official certification. Conti
explains: “We don’t just provide
the knowledge of our engineering
staff but work according to a holistic
approach.”
But why do customers specifically
look for solutions from a company
that historically comes from
the combustion engine area? This is
where AVL scores with its excellent
engineering know-how built up
over decades and its global presence
in the automotive industry. After
all, software that supports a driving
function is very rarely developed
for just one market. “Through
our worldwide locations, we know
about the nature of many markets
and can offer targeted assistance
here,” explains Conti.
Our customers benefit from the
synergies of our engineering, simulation
and testing business units.
Particularly when making the leap
up to Level 3, Level 4 and Level 5
functions (see box), this is a decisive
competitive advantage. “Automotive
manufacturers want to sleep
with a clear conscience regarding
liability
for autonomous driving
systems,” he says.
In addition, cybersecurity also plays
a key role in the further development
of ADAS/AD functions. The
driving functions, previously distributed
among many control units,
are increasingly being centralized
on a few high-performance computers
in a so-called “zone architecture”
– via a central computer as
an interface to the outside world.
This requires security precautions.
AVL offers solutions – in some
cases
in cooperation with partners –
for evaluating the potential vulnerabilities,
for example, in the transmission
of data via cV2X.
“As an independent company, we
are often contracted to professionally
look for vulnerabilities.” Conti
adds, “these are, of course, sensitive
issues. An undiscovered loophole
can lead to high-risk damage. Despite
all the new risks the overarching
goal of automated and autonomous
systems remains to reduce
accidents on the roads. And the faster
these gain ground, the more necessary
it is to work together with partners
like AVL,” Conti emphasizes.
Personally, he is looking forward
to the rise of autonomous transport
vehicles with Level 4 functions for
inner-city areas, which can be ordered
via an app. “When I’m 70 or
80, I want to use the new mobility
service to comfortably visit my
grandchildren.”