Spanish testing and homologation services company Applus+ IDIADA has been sharing details of its forthcoming new CAV test tracks. Having commenced construction three months ago, completion of the works and start-up of the new test tracks is planned for between September and October 2019.
Once open these tracks will enable the simulation of any scenario related to the testing of CAV systems, V2V and V2X connectivity, as well as ADAS development. The complex includes two working areas and accesses to the test areas. The first area is orientated to the testing of autonomous vehicles and their systems, and the second one is aimed at performing tests that simulate situations at intersections in urban and interurban areas. The entire asphalt surface amounts to more than 5ha (12.3 acres).
As many as 10 different development teams and their vehicles can work in parallel in the ADAS test areas, which include those for vehicle-to-vehicle emergency braking systems; pedestrian detection systems; lane departure warning systems; lane keeping assistants; automatic braking systems for animal crossing; roadside detection systems; blind spot detection systems; and automatic lane change assistance.
According to Applus+ IDIADA’s innovation and technology manager, David Price, “this new infrastructure can also be used to simulate future traffic scenarios such as high-speed intersections and highway simulations. The test area will have the entire communication network necessary to test the vehicle’s connectivity, including its own 4G and 5G networks, which will be available throughout the test area”.