Development Framework for Longitudinal Automated Driving Functions with Off-board Information Integration

TL;DR

This paper presents a development framework for automated driving functions that integrates off-board data sources, emphasizing dependability, safety, and energy efficiency, exemplified by a traffic light assistant system.

Contribution

It introduces a modular dependability concept (DDI) framework enabling seamless development from simulation to real-time testing of automated driving functions.

Findings

Successful implementation of a traffic light assistant system.

Enhanced energy efficiency in urban traffic environments.

Validated development process from simulation to hardware testing.

Abstract

Increasingly sophisticated function development is taking place with the aim of developing efficient, safe and increasingly Automated Driving Functions. This development is possible with the use of diverse data from sources such as Navigation Systems, eHorizon, on-board sensor data, Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication. Increasing challenges arise with the dependency on large amounts of real-time data coming from off-board sources. At the core of addressing these challenges lies the concept of a Digital Dependability Identity (DDI) of a component or system. DDIs are modular, composable, and executable components in the field, facilitating: $\bullet$ efficient synthesis of component and system dependability information, $\bullet$ effective evaluation of information for safe and secure composition of highly distributed and autonomous Cyber Physical Systems. In AVL's Connected Powertrain (TM), Automated Driving Functions are tailored to Powertrain Control Strategies that predictively increase energy efficiency according to the powertrain type and its component efficiencies. Simultaneously, the burden on the driver is reduced by optimizing the vehicle velocity, whilst minimizing any journey time penalty.In this work, the development of dependable Automated Driving Functions is exemplified by the Traffic Light Assistant, an adaptive strategy that utilizes predictions of preceding traffic, upcoming road curvature, inclination, speed limits, and especially traffic light signal phase and timing information to increase the energy efficiency in an urban traffic environment. A key aspect of this development is the possibility for seamless and simultaneous development; from office simulation to human-in-the-loop and to real-time tests that include vehicle and powertrain hardware. Driver's acceptance and comfort is rated in an advanced diver simulator mounted on a hexapod, capable of emulating longitudinal and lateral acceleration of a real vehicle. Test results from real-time function validation on a Powertrain Testbed are shown, including real traffic light signal phasing information and traffic flow representation on Graz city roads.