Revolutionizing ADAS Validation: Porsche's Smartphone Solution

Porsche Engineering has unveiled an innovative approach to validating Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) using smartphones. This new method aims to enhance the efficiency and scalability of testing by integrating AI technology, allowing for more comprehensive data collection during road tests.

Key Takeaways

Porsche Engineering introduces the ComBox App for ADAS validation.
Collaboration with Peregrine.ai enhances object detection capabilities.
Smartphones will enable broader data collection from various test vehicles.
The method aims to reduce manual validation efforts and costs.

The Challenge of ADAS Validation

Validating ADAS functions requires extensive measurement data from test drives to ensure systems can handle various edge cases, such as unusual traffic signs or construction zones. Traditional validation methods involve expensive equipment and significant manual labor, making it challenging to scale testing across large vehicle fleets.

Innovative Solution: The ComBox App

Porsche Engineering's new ComBox App, in partnership with Berlin-based Peregrine.ai, leverages smartphone technology to streamline the validation process. The app utilizes AI-powered object detection to compare the vehicle's recognition of traffic signs with the smartphone's findings. Key features include:

Automated Error Detection: When discrepancies arise, the smartphone captures an image of the traffic sign and instructs the data logger to record relevant vehicle data.
Cloud Data Integration: Recorded data can be uploaded to the cloud for analysis, allowing engineers to optimize ADAS functions more effectively.

Benefits of the New Approach

This smartphone-based validation method offers several advantages:

Cost-Effectiveness: Reduces the need for expensive measuring equipment, making it feasible for a larger number of test vehicles to participate in validation.
Increased Data Collection: Enables the recording of more edge cases, particularly in regions with unique traffic rules, such as Australia.
Reduced Manual Labor: Minimizes the time and effort required for developers to manually compare and document discrepancies during road tests.

Future Applications

The successful implementation of this method during the development of the new Porsche Macan suggests a promising future for ADAS validation. Beyond traffic sign recognition, Porsche plans to extend this technology to optimize other ADAS features, including:

Lane detection
Traffic light phase recognition
Pothole detection

Conclusion

Porsche Engineering's innovative use of smartphones for ADAS validation marks a significant step forward in automotive technology. By harnessing AI and mobile technology, Porsche aims to enhance the safety and reliability of its vehicles while making the validation process more efficient and scalable. This approach not only benefits Porsche but also sets a new standard for the automotive industry in the realm of advanced driver assistance systems.