AB Dynamics platform adds cyclists and pedestrians to ADAS and AV testing

UK-based AB Dynamics (ABD) has released its LaunchPad platform with the intention of offering choreographed control of all mobile features involved in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle testing. The solution, according to Jeremy Ash, the company’s commercial manager, will help create complex scenarios that potentially involve multiple pedestrians, cyclists and cars that are all synchronised and coordinated with the test vehicle. LaunchPad’s power controller runs on the comp
March 27, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
UK-based AB Dynamics (ABD) has released its LaunchPad platform with the intention of offering choreographed control of all mobile features involved in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle testing. The solution, according to Jeremy Ash, the company’s commercial manager, will help create complex scenarios that potentially involve multiple pedestrians, cyclists and cars that are all synchronised and coordinated with the test vehicle.


LaunchPad’s power controller runs on the company’s Robot Controller software. The proprietary TrackFi radio shares position data with other ABD controllers via the Syncrho interface, which aims to allow its motion to be synchronised with the test vehicle and other ADAS targets. The self-propelled chassis, at 65mm height, is said to carry pedestrian, cyclist, moped, scooter and animal dummies at speeds up to 50kph.

The trajectory of the system can be programmed using a graphical path generation utility to help simplify the process of creating and running complex scenarios with multiple moving objects.

In addition, the aluminium chassis comes with shallow sloping sides that allow it to be repeatedly run over. Batteries can be replaced without removing the target.
 
“LaunchPad has taken us a further step towards testing ADAS performance under every potential scenario that could arise, able to represent even the unpredictable behaviour of an animal on the highway. It’s one reason why 100% of 6437 Euro NCAP test laboratories use our products for ADAS testing”, Ash added.

UTC

Related Content

  • July 16, 2019
    Proterra supplies battery-electric buses to Virginia
    Proterra is to supply battery-electric buses and charging stations to the Virginia Department of General Services in the US. Proterra says the contract allows transit agencies, universities and institutions to purchase its battery-electric buses and charging systems. Transit agencies from other US states can also utilise the contract to simplify the process of purchasing electric buses, the company adds. Ryan Popple, Proterra CEO, says: “We can be on a quicker path to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel
    Read More
  • June 11, 2019
    Ex-Conduent CEO: ‘I am not a career transportation person’
    Just prior to resigning as Conduent Transportation CEO, Mick Slattery talked to Adam Hill about the importance of digital and how tech can transform ITS. "I am not a career public sector person,” declares Mick Slattery, chief executive officer of Conduent Transportation, at the beginning of his interview with ITS International. “I am not a career transportation person. I am new to this industry, effective August last year. At my core I’ve spent my career creating and launching new opportunities for clie
    Read More
  • March 16, 2016
    Observing driver behaviour in real traffic condition
    The EU’s UDRIVE project will investigate driver behaviour in terms of road safety and the decarbonisation of road transport, as Nicole van Nes and Silvia Curbelo explain. There were nearly 25,700 fatalities on European Union (EU) roads in 2014 or, to look it another way, roughly 70 people are killed in traffic accidents on European roads every day - and many more are injured. Around 22% of the fatalities are pedestrians, 15% will be motorcycle riders and 8% cyclists. So despite the improvements in road safe
    Read More
  • November 14, 2019
    Hyundai chooses BlackBerry to power ADAS platform
    Hyundai Autron has selected BlackBerry QNX to power its next-generation advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving software platform. BlackBerry says its QNX OS for Safety solution will provide the Hyundai subsidiary with a secure embedded operating system for safety and “mission-critical” applications. BlackBerry’s executive chairman John Chen says: “BlackBerry QNX software meets the ISO 26262 ASIL-D level of certification which is the most stringent safety classification for th
    Read More

Highlighted Content