Das Projekt hinter SET Level

Simulation – flexible and adaptable

The simulation can be configured to meet the demands of any task in verification and validation of automated driving functions.

The SET Level project in detail

Before we can benefit from the advantages of automated vehicles in everyday life, absolute traffic safety must be ensured. If a car shall move in traffic autonomously, it must be able to cope with any situation that could arise. And it is not possible to test this under real conditions only.

Simulation vs. testing

The SET Level project tackles this problem. SET Level deals with simulation-based development and testing of automated vehicles. In the project, research and development staff of 20 project partners in science and industry are co-operating to form the basis for reliable verification methods and thus for later approval of automated driving functions.

Relation to PEGASUS project'

SET Level builds upon the PEGASUS co-operation project completed in May 2019. In that project, partners from science and industry developed quality standards and methods for securing autonomous vehicles. The focus was on the context of motorway traffic. SET Level further develops the simulation approaches of PEGASUS on a broader basis and extends the application to the complete traffic environment.

Off the motorway – into town

PEGASUS used the well-structured and strictly controlled motorway segment to develop a general approach. However, people also want autonomous driving elsewhere. SET Level accepts this challenge and focuses on urban traffic where SET Level identifies the demands of simulating analysis of traffic scnearios and develops suitable solutions accordingly.

The aim is to test automated and interconnected driving functions in a cost-effective and flexible way. "Both development and test of automated vehicles shall be substantially improved by this project", explains Prof. Frank Köster, founding director at German Aerospace Center''s institute of AI security. "Together with our partners we want to provide the basis for efficient testing in development and pre-market phases as well as reliable review and validation of automated vehicles", said Köster.

Flexible, demand-driven, extendable

In this respect our project relies on consequent development of automation methods, the major part of which are based on simulations. Together with BMW Group the German Aerospace Center coordinates the project with a clear focus on close co-operation of the partners from science and industry. Dr. Stefan Rude, who is responsible in the project regarding virtual security of automated vehicles from BMW, adds, "Our aim is to provide usability and practicability of solutions and standardisations. This is the only way to achieve an open, flexible, and extendable platform which supports the demands of simulation-based research and testing of automated vehicles in complex traffic situations."