Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Applus+ Idiada have agreed to collaborate on the development of new facilities for the controlled environmental testing of highly automated vehicles (AVs).
The partners say that a combination of virtual and physical settings will be developed to efficiently test AVs in controlled weather and lighting conditions (including snow, fog, rain and glare). The new capabilities are expected to accelerate the expansion of operational design domains (ODD) and the improvement of the safety and reliability of AVs.
Independent market research by both companies unveiled a need for testing in controlled adverse weather and lighting conditions in the international automotive industry. To cover that need, MHI and Applus+ Idiada agreed to work jointly toward the best possible solution. The partnership is expected to expand and strengthen the AV products and services provided by both companies. As the next step in their collaboration, a conceptual design of the planned facilities will be developed and aligned with key automotive players.
Hitoshi Kaguchi, EVP of MHI, commented, “By combining technologies of the excellent partner Applus+ Idiada and MHI Group, we will jointly contribute to the realization of a future safe and secure society in the field of mobility by establishing a verification system, including a digital twin for highly automated vehicles.”
