With the addition of two recently updated draft protocols, Dynamic Research Inc (DRI), a testing services provider, is now capable of carrying out the full suite of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ADAS verification tests.
The first updated protocol consists of revisions to the Pedestrian Autonomous Emergency Braking (PAEB) protocol; the second consists of changes to the vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test, which now includes motorcycles and tractor-trailers.
The draft protocols were published at the start of May and it is anticipated that they will be finalized later in 2023.
“Following the addition of the new draft protocols to our test list, we can now conduct all of the IIHS collision avoidance system verification tests,” said Nadine Wong, director of track testing at DRI. “Through this, we can give OEMs the opportunity to go to market with their IIHS safety ratings in place by proactively testing pre-production or production representative models. There is no need for manufacturers to wait for IIHS to conduct the testing themselves.
“Our customers often bundle all of their necessary regulatory ADAS testing together. The benefits of doing this are substantial. It minimizes the time and cost of the test vehicle logistics and makes testing much more efficient because the vehicle only needs to be set up once to conduct all the tests.”
Based in California, DRI benefits from having a privately owned proving ground near Bakersfield. The site was purpose-built to carry out the development and verification of ADAS technologies, including the specific lane line markings dictated by the test requirements.
DRI’s facility has an array of ADAS testing equipment, including AB Dynamics’ driving robots, Guided Soft Target (GST) platforms, Soft Car 360s, Soft Motorcycle 360s, Soft Pedestrian 360s, LaunchPad target platforms and access to tractor-trailer units.
“The investment required to conduct ADAS tests, including the equipment and the proving ground, can be substantial, so not all OEMs have these capabilities or the necessary experience to carry out these tests,” said Wong. “We offer a one-stop-shop solution. We have a close working relationship with IIHS, conduct this type of testing daily and have been integral to the development of ADAS testing since these technologies were first introduced.”
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