Rohde & Schwarz, a technology company, and IPG Automotive, a software firm, have unveiled an innovative solution targeting the automotive industry: a complete hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test setup for automotive radar systems. This groundbreaking collaboration merges IPG Automotive’s CarMaker simulation software with Rohde & Schwarz’s cutting-edge AREG800A radar object simulator and QAT100 advanced antenna array. The objective? Empowering vehicle manufacturers to simulate Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) scenarios with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency.
The significance of this partnership lies in its ability to transition AD testing from traditional proving grounds to the controlled environment of the development lab. By doing so, the companies aim to streamline the development process and reduce costs associated with physical testing.
IPG Automotive’s CarMaker is at the heart of this solution, offering a robust platform for the development and end-to-end testing of cars and light commercial vehicles across all stages of development. Its high-resolution 3D engine facilitates detailed simulation of the entire sensor stack, seamlessly integrating with existing tool landscapes and supporting various standards and interfaces crucial for ADAS/AD testing.
Complementing CarMaker, the R&S AREG800A, in tandem with the R&S QAT100, enables the generation of multiple artificial objects with independent range, radar cross-section (RCS), angle, and radial velocity. The integration is made seamless through an open simulation interface (ASAM OSI), allowing for realistic driving scenario assessment within radar HIL testing.
One notable feature of the solution is the inclusion of a user-friendly scenario editor tailored for non-simulation experts. This intuitive tool simplifies the testing process for maneuver-based driving scenarios, democratizing access to complex simulation capabilities.
Further enhancing automation, CarMaker incorporates a sophisticated test manager capable of building and executing automated test sequences locally or in the cloud. This feature not only expedites testing but also automates the calculation and evaluation of key performance indicators (KPIs), generating reports seamlessly.
Moreover, CarMaker’s capability to define the configuration of virtual vehicle prototypes enhances simulation realism and accuracy, crucial for effective testing and development.
Andreas Höfer, Chief Technology Officer at IPG Automotive, expressed optimism about the collaboration, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize automotive testing. He highlighted the comprehensive nature of the hardware-in-the-loop integration test solution, emphasizing its ability to shift testing from physical environments to the lab, ultimately resulting in significant time and cost savings for the industry.
