Euro NCAP’s Updated Assisted Driving Grading System

In 2024, the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) launched an updated Assisted Driving Grading system. In this blog post, Leo Evans, Lead Applications Engineer at AB Dynamics, delves into the implications of this update for the automotive industry, its aim to enhance consumer understanding, and its impact on the development and evaluation of assisted driving systems.

The Challenge of Assessing Assisted Driving Systems

As vehicles with advanced assisted driving systems increasingly flood the market, consumers often find themselves confused about the true capabilities of these technologies. Misleading terminology has led many drivers to mistakenly believe they are operating self-driving cars, even when they are still in control. Furthermore, some drivers disable safety systems due to perceptions that they are more of a nuisance than a benefit.

So, how can consumers accurately evaluate these systems to make informed vehicle purchases?

Euro NCAP’s New Assisted Driving Grading System

Assisted driving refers to Level 2 on the SAE driving automation scale, where systems assist the driver while keeping them responsible for all driving tasks. These advanced systems typically combine technologies like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.

Historically, these systems were not included in Euro NCAP’s star rating system. In 2018, Euro NCAP began analyzing available assisted driving systems, and by 2020, it introduced a grading program with specific testing protocols. The 2024 update aims to provide consumers with clearer information and enable direct comparisons between vehicles.

The updated grading system emphasizes two main areas: Assistance Competence, which balances Vehicle Assistance and Driver Engagement, and Safety Backup. The combined scores in these areas yield grades similar to the familiar five-star safety rating, categorizing vehicles as ‘Entry’, ‘Moderate’, ‘Good’, or ‘Very Good’.

The Balance Principle

Central to this grading system is the ‘Balance Principle’. The Assistance Competence score reflects the equilibrium between Vehicle Assistance and Driver Engagement. Driver Engagement involves aspects like driver monitoring, system collaboration, and consumer information, while Vehicle Assistance includes functionalities such as speed control and adaptive cruise performance.

As the level of assistance increases, the requirement for driver engagement also grows. The new grading places significant emphasis on keeping drivers engaged, making it a crucial factor in scoring. While currently separate from Euro NCAP’s safety ratings, these will be interconnected by 2026 and fully integrated by 2029, compelling manufacturers to prioritize assisted driving systems as they would other safety features.

Expanding Test Scenarios

The updated Assisted Driving rating system aims to enhance road safety, a commendable objective. However, to evaluate these systems more comprehensively, Euro NCAP has expanded the number and complexity of test scenarios, making the evaluation process more demanding and resource-intensive. The latest protocol introduces 40 new tests that require advanced driving robots and ADAS targets, effectively doubling the testing workload.

These new scenarios focus on interactions with Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs), such as motorcyclists, pedestrians, and cyclists, presenting unique challenges for assisted driving systems. For instance, accurately detecting and classifying motorcyclists in close proximity to other vehicles can be problematic. The updated tests aim to better simulate real-world conditions, including scenarios where vehicles are not perfectly centered in their lanes.

To achieve high scores, assisted driving systems must respond progressively and predictably to hazardous situations, emulating human-like reactions.

Enhancing Testing Efficiency

Given that Euro NCAP testing is already time-consuming and costly, the added tests impose greater demands on manufacturers and testing facilities. To improve efficiency, AB Dynamics has automated all relevant tests within the 2024 Assisted Driving protocol through the latest version of our RC software. This tool allows users to swiftly configure and execute the new tests required by Euro NCAP.

Automating the testing process is crucial, particularly for complex scenarios like cut-ins, where precise timing is essential. AB Dynamics’ software automatically computes trajectories and synchronizes the movements of test vehicles and ADAS targets, streamlining the testing process.

Conclusion

Euro NCAP’s updated Assisted Driving grading system represents a significant advancement in enhancing consumer awareness and understanding of assisted driving technologies’ capabilities and limitations. This new framework offers a clearer view of system performance while encouraging manufacturers to prioritize both driver engagement and safety.

While the expanded test scenarios present challenges for manufacturers and testing organizations, they ensure vehicles are assessed in more realistic settings, ultimately leading to improved real-world performance. As assisted driving systems become increasingly sophisticated, enhancing testing efficiency will become crucial for all stakeholders in the automotive testing industry.

For further information on how AB Dynamics can support your assisted driving program, please contact.