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VeriCAV project uses simulation to put Connected and Autonomous Vehicles to the test

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VeriCAV project uses simulation to put Connected and Autonomous Vehicles to the test

Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) are becoming increasingly sophisticated, yet questions remain around their safe deployment onto public roads. Simulation can help to answer many of these questions.

Members of the University of Leeds Driving Simulator have recently begun work on a major new project, VeriCAV (Verification of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles), which will develop an integrated platform to allow Automated Driving Systems (ADS) to be tested in simulation.

As CAV technology becomes increasingly sophisticated (and the UK more prepared for driverless cars on public roads), the industry needs to explore ways to ensure autonomous vehicles operate safely. However, safety evaluation is laborious and complex, and real-world testing can be impractical and incomplete – simulation gets around these problems and opens the doors to evaluating multi-layered and uncommon situations.

The VeriCAV simulation will also mean significantly improving test efficiency when evaluating countless driving scenarios, and at the same time, it can replicate the behaviour and actions of obstacles in a realistic and consistent manner.

Professor Richard Romano, Chair in Driving Simulation at the University of Leeds, and PI at the University of Leeds, said: "We are very excited to be working on the VeriCAV project.  The University of Leeds will be integrating a set of Smart Actors with the VeriCAV simulation platform. These actors can interact with the Automated Driving System in a human-like way to test in depth how the ADS will perform around other road users."

Led by Horiba MIRA, VeriCAV consortium partners include: SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre, Latent Logic, Propelmee, Aimsun Ltd., the University of Leeds, and the Transport Systems Catapult.

The VeriCAV consortium was awarded the funding as part of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and Innovate UK competition to invest in industry-led, collaborative research and development projects in the area of CAV simulation. It is the first stage of CCAV’s approach to enhancing the UK’s testing ecosystem through simulation and modelling.