Child version of test system for ADAS development
AB Dynamics in the UK has worked with US sister company Dynamic Research Inc (DRI) on a child version of its pedestrian ADAS target, the Soft Pedestrian 360.
The ADAS test system aims to meet the growing demand for child pedestrian evaluation of radar, lidar and cameras and focuses on realism and minimising test downtime.
To reduce damage to the test vehicle, the new child target uses the same modular architecture as the adult to reduce the mass of any individual component that could contact the test vehicle and cause damage.
Servos operating the articulating legs are also completely encased in foam and sit within each component. This design ensures there are no exposed hard points that could make contact with the test vehicle. This means that the vehicle under test is protected when the limbs are disconnected upon impact.
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“The number of Euro NCAP test scenarios that require a child pedestrian target is expanding and will continue to grow,” said Jordan Silberling, General Manager of DRI.
“Following the success of the adult version of our Soft Pedestrian 360, we have seen an increase in demand for a child target that caters to these test scenarios and uses the same proven architecture and technology used in the adult version.”
“Downtime during testing sessions due to test vehicle damage or target damage is a significant factor in the overall expense of testing,” he added. “Our goal is to help avoid unnecessary delays, ensuring efficient testing.”
This focus on minimising downtime means the child’s limbs attach to the body via foam blocks that engage corresponding sockets in the torso. This design enables the leg sub-assembly to be changed in less than a minute. It also utilises the same novel slipper clutch in the adult target to stop the servos from being back-driven during a collision, avoiding damage to the target and improving its durability. The cross-compatibility of these components helps to reduce the overall cost of testing and minimises the requirement for storing spare parts.
The child version uses the same hard-wearing fabric clothing as the adult, which prevents the foam core from being worn away or torn apart to maintain a consistent shape throughout testing. The clothing can be easily and cost-effectively replaced should it become damaged.
To ensure realism of the target, DRI also conducted significant on-track testing, using its in-house-developed radar and lidar measurement system, to tune the reflectivity of the target. As a result, it accurately represents a child pedestrian to sensor perception systems.
The target also features an age-specific gait that replicates a walking child. The movement is automatically synchronised with the position, speed and acceleration of the target relative to a starting point using the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) of the ADAS platform carrying it, such as the LaunchPad Spin. This method ensures a realistic, speed-matched gait and removes the requirement to manually adjust the gait for different test scenarios or variations.
“Currently, the legs are articulated as is dictated by the relevant industry regulations,” said Silberling. “But thanks to the modular nature of our technology, we have future-proofed the design to easily articulate the arms and the head should legislation change, or OEMs wish to conduct more extensive testing.”
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