Generation of scenarios for development, training, virtual testing and validation of CCAM systems (CCAM Partnership)

Higher levels of CCAM require validation methodologies making use of scenario-based physical and virtual testing, thereby complementing real-world test drives on public roads, audits and in-use reporting.

Scenario-based testing is necessary as conventional testing and validation approaches would require driving hundreds of millions of test kilometres before new CCAM systems or system updates can be deployed. The development of common scenario-based validation methodologies is the subject of HORIZON-CL5-2021-D6-01-02^[1] and should be based on the results of the HEADSTART project^[2]. To enable these common validation methodologies to be widely used, relevant test scenarios need to be provided. These scenarios can partly be defined based on expert knowledge, which, however, needs to be complemented by the extraction of test scenarios from real traffic data^[3], from collision data and in the future, from advanced traffic simulations. The aim of this call topic is to generate a wide range of test scenarios for the training, testing and validation of CCAM systems with a focus on urban and rural traffic, for which there is significantly less knowledge on relevant scenarios than for motorway driving.

To maximise the outcomes, proposed actions should demonstrate upfront commitment from key stakeholders to the validation methodologies, as developed and used in HEADSTART, in a project to be funded under HORIZON-CL5-2021-D6-01-02^[4], in L3Pilot and in Hi-Drive, either by providing significant volumes of raw data or by providing scenarios extracted from such data making use of the automated processing chain. Furthermore, stakeholders should dedicate resources to ensure that the scenarios are developed in a manner that maximises their utility also to other entities and their successful integration in their future (virtual) development and testing processes. Proposed actions are expected to share scenarios in an openly accessible EU wide database, which should be established by a project to be funded under HORIZON-CL5-2021-D6-01-02^[4].

Scenarios and other data shared by stakeholders and existing data made available by national and by other EU-funded projects can be complemented by new data recorded in this action, to provide a realistic set of scenarios with EU-wide coverage.

The research will require due consideration of cyber security and both personal and non-personal data protection issues, including GDPR. The cyber security of the developed processing chain should be demonstrated for training, virtual testing and validation of CCAM systems.

Proposed actions are expected to develop recommendations for harmonisation and standardisation and to feed into on-going discussions regarding EU type vehicle approval rules as well as in the framework of the UNECE.

In order to achieve the expected outcomes, international cooperation is encouraged in particular with Japan and the United States but also with other relevant strategic partners in third countries.

This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility’ (CCAM). As such, projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on results to the European Partnership ‘Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility’ (CCAM) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs.

Destination

Safe, Resilient Transport and Smart Mobility services for passengers and goods (2023/24)

This Destination includes activities addressing safe and smart mobility services for passengers and goods.

Europe needs to manage the transformation of supply-based transport into safe, resilient and sustainable transport and demand-driven, smart mobility services for passengers and goods. Suitable research and innovation will enable significant safety, environmental, economic and social benefits by reducing accidents caused by human error, decreasing traffic congestion, reducing energy consumption and emissions of vehicles, increasing efficiency and productivity of freight transport operations. To succeed in this transformation, Europe’s ageing (and not always sustainable) transport infrastructure needs to be prepared for enabling cleaner and smarter operations.

Europe needs also to maintain a high-level of transport safety for its citizens. Resilience should be built in the transport systems to prevent, mitigate and recover from disruptions. Research and innovation will underpin the three safety pillars: technologies, regulations and human factors.

This Destination contributes to the following Strategic Plan’s Key Strategic Orientations (KSO):

• C: Making Europe the first digitally enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy through the transformation of its mobility, energy, construction and production systems;
• A: Promoting an open strategic autonomy[[ ‘Open strategic autonomy’ refers to the term ‘strategic autonomy while preserving an open economy’, as reflected in the conclusions of the European Council 1 – 2 October 2020.]] by leading the development of key digital, enabling and emerging technologies, sectors and value chains to accelerate and steer the digital and green transitions through human-centred technologies and innovations.

It covers the following impact areas:

• Industrial leadership in key and emerging technologies that work for people;
• Smart and sustainable transport.

The expected impact, in line with the Strategic Plan, is to contribute to “Safe, seamless, smart, inclusive, resilient and sustainable mobility systems for people and goods thanks to user-centric technologies and services including digital technologies and advanced satellite navigation services”, notably through:

• Accelerating the implementation of innovative connected, cooperative and automated mobility (CCAM) technologies and systems for passengers and goods (more detailed information below).
• Further developing a multimodal transport system through sustainable and smart long-haul and urban freight transport and logistics, upgraded and resilient physical and digital infrastructures for smarter vehicles and operations, for optimised system-wide network efficiency (more detailed information below).
• Drastically decreasing the number of transport accidents, incidents and fatalities towards the EU’s long-term goal of moving close to zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050 even in road transportation (Vision Zero) and increase the resilience of transport systems (more detailed information below).