Operationalization of Scenario-Based Safety Assessment of Automated Driving Systems

TL;DR

This paper details how to practically implement scenario-based safety assessments for Automated Driving Systems using a scenario database, aligning with the NATM framework and Horizon Europe project methods.

Contribution

It provides a practical guide for operationalizing the NATM safety assessment approach with scenario databases and integrates it with recent Horizon Europe methods.

Findings

Practical steps for conducting safety assessments using scenario databases.

Integration of NATM with Horizon Europe safety assessment methods.

Guidelines for fully operationalizing the NATM approach.

Abstract

Before introducing an Automated Driving System (ADS) on the road at scale, the manufacturer must conduct some sort of safety assurance. To structure and harmonize the safety assurance process, the UNECE WP.29 Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA) is developing the New Assessment/Test Method (NATM) that indicates what steps need to be taken for safety assessment of an ADS. In this paper, we will show how to practically conduct safety assessment making use of a scenario database, and what additional steps must be taken to fully operationalize the NATM. In addition, we will elaborate on how the use of scenario databases fits with methods developed in the Horizon Europe projects that focus on safety assessment following the NATM approach.