Hochschule Karlsruhe Hochschule Karlsruhe - University of Applied Sciences
Hochschule Karlsruhe Hochschule Karlsruhe - University of Applied Sciences

„Next Level“-Main Inspection

Trust is good, control is better: autonomous vehicles in main inspections

   

According to SAE International, vehicles from level 3 onwards are considered autonomous vehicles, in which continuous monitoring by the driver is no longer necessary. So far, assistance systems (e.g. motorway pilot) can be found in road traffic as a preliminary stage of this (level 1-2). These vehicles drive independently for stretches, but the driver must always monitor the driving functions. Car manufacturers are working at full speed on the "next level" car (level 3-5). The drivers of this vision are the desire for more safety and comfort in road traffic. At the same time, new technologies require reliable approval and testing procedures over the entire operating time. In addition to sources of error, such as an incorrectly aligned sensor, networking with the outside world also offers attack surfaces for targeted manipulation. In order to ensure road safety in the future, the project deals with diagnosis and testing options for the "next level" main inspection.

The research cooperation investigates possibilities for the diagnosis of autonomous driving functions and the testing of safety-relevant vehicle systems

GTÜ Gesellschaft für Technische Überwachung mbH and Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences - Technology and Economics have concluded a research cooperation agreement. The focus of the cooperation is on the "diagnosis of autonomous driving functions" and the "testing of safety-relevant vehicle systems". GTÜ and Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences have set up a joint research group at the university's Institute for Energy Efficient Mobility (IEEM) under the direction of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Philipp Nenninger and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reiner Kriesten. Over the duration of the work, the joint research projects there will be examined in a practical manner in doctoral, bachelor's and master's theses.

Main focus

Diagnosis
Automotive Security
Homologation
General inspection

Background to the work

The background to this is the advancing digitalisation and networking of vehicle systems, which are subject to consistently high demands on reliability and safety in road traffic. With an average age of 9.6 years [statistics: kba, 2020], passenger cars and their sensors, cameras and actuators are exposed to the omnipresent signs of ageing and wear. In addition, there are more and more over-the-air update options that enable software changes in the field and thus provide wireless interfaces for flashing control units.
Road safety must be ensured throughout the entire service life of a vehicle, and the main inspection on German roads makes an important contribution to this: "Vehicles are inspected for their road safety, environmental compatibility and compliance with the construction and operating regulations applicable to them. Annex VIII, paragraph 1.2.1, StVZO]. 

Even in the case of autonomous vehicles from SAE level 3, true to the motto "trust is good, control is better", a check of the roadworthiness must always take place in order to ensure the protection of people in road traffic. In accordance with the advancing SAE levels, the aim of the work is to determine test methods that do justice to the current state of the art.

Objective of the project

Overall, the project aims to contribute to tomorrow's road safety by answering questions such as: Which systems will have to be tested in the future to assess roadworthiness, how can these be tested and to what extent must this be done. Accordingly, within the framework of the research cooperation, proposals for future homologation specifications and main inspection specifications are being developed in two areas: in one case, the focus is on checking cyber safety and in the other case, the functional testing of autonomous driving functions.

More about our equipment: Automotive Mobility Lab

 

The research vehicle

In order to evaluate and validate the test methodology under realistic conditions, an electric golf cart was equipped with sensors for autonomous driving and expanded to form a test bench.

Elektric Golf cart with road registration for level 4
Maximum speed of 25 km/h
Sensors for a 360° viewing area

• Mono cameras: 1x front camera: 60° field of view; 6x 100° field of view (360° all-round view in total)
• 1x stereo camera: front view with depth information
• 1x lidar sensor: high-resolution 360° point cloud
• 8x radar sensors: 360° detection range around the vehicle
• 12-16x ultrasonic sensors: 360° coverage around the vehicle for close range
Computing system and software
• Computer with graphics cards on loading area
• Robot Operating System (ROS) for communication
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Receiver
Car2X-Interface

The research vehicle was financed with funding from the program „Verbesserung der Geräteausstattung für Forschung an Hochschulen für angewandte Wissenschaften in Baden-Württemberg–Geräteprogramm“ of the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg.

Contact

Academic staff member
Mona Hellstern, M.Sc.
Tel.: +49 (0)721 925-1440 
mona.hellsternspam prevention@h-ka.de

adress & post

Academic staff member
Ruslan Gerasimov, M.Sc.
Tel.: +49 (0)721 925-1605 
ruslan.gerasimovspam prevention@h-ka.de

adress & post

External doctoral student
Felix Müller, M.Sc.
felix.muellerspam prevention@h-ka.de

adress & post

Key data

Type of project: Research collaboration
Duration of the project: 04/2018 - 10/2025
Project management: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reiner Kriesten
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Philipp Nenninger
Doctoral Candidate Security Testing: Mona Hellstern, M.Sc.
Doctoral Candidate Enhancing Periodical Technical Inspections of ADAS: Ruslan Gerasimov, M.Sc.
Doctoral Candidate Diagnosing Autonomous Driving Functions: Felix Müller, M.Sc.
Consortium: University of Karlsruhe
Partner: Gesellschaft für Technische Überwachung mbH
Funding body: Gesellschaft für Technische Überwachung mbH

Karlsruhe
Institute of Energy Efficient Mobility (IEEM)
Moltkestr. 30
76133 Karlsruhe

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Institute of Energy Efficient Mobility (IEEM)
Postfach 2440
76012 Karlsruhe