Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, a global leader in sensor, software and automation solutions, is taking a full-scale approach to ensuring pre-market quality and safety of sensors and automotive semiconductors by validating ADAS and autonomous vehicle systems via the cloud.

Hexagon recently launched its cloud-based solution, Virtual Test Drive (VTDx).

VTDx leverages cloud computing technologies to efficiently validate the quality and functionality of ADAS and autonomous driving (AD) software based on real-world road event conditions, accelerating time to market for safe and innovative mobility technologies.

Software-centric vehicles (SDVs), which have recently become a hot topic, are acting as a major bottleneck in the development and testing process due to the integration of complex technologies such as sensors, various chips, and advanced AI algorithms.

Especially for ADAS software, the cost of fixing defects after production is 15 times higher than during the development stage, so ensuring quality and safety before release is emerging as a key task.

VTDx, introduced by Hexagon, is a usage-based service that overcomes the limitations of physical testing through virtual prototyping.

Continuous testing and integration verification of ADAS and autonomous driving systems are possible by utilizing the cloud computing and automation capabilities of the digital reality platform ‘Nexus’. possible.

VTDx addresses the centralization of electronic/electronic architectures (E/E architectures) and increasing regulations, providing an SDV test strategy tailored to modern software development practices.

Developed in collaboration with the Microsoft Azure team, VTDx has been well-received by overseas automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers for its intuitive UX, automated code test simulation, and usage-based billing.

It implements realistic visualization through Unreal Engine and fully supports ASAM's OpenSCENARIO and OpenDRIVE standards.

VTDx enables ADAS and AD engineers to easily configure their systems under test (SUTs) through an intuitive web interface.

Hexagon's driving environment simulation engine, which has accumulated 15 years of know-how, enables verification of SUT consistency and various sensor simulations through high-precision physics-based simulation.

Additionally, VTDx runs software-in-the-loop (SIL) test programs compliant with OpenDRIVE and OpenSCENARIO standards, and can automatically execute thousands of scenarios, dramatically reducing the setup and computation time of SIL test programs.

“We developed a new cloud-based ADAS simulation software built on a CI/CT process to address the software development challenges our automotive customers face,” said Mahesh Kailasam, senior vice president and global president of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence Design & Engineering business unit. “Whether their goals are to expand test coverage, reduce test cycles, or automate tasks, our customers will benefit greatly from VTDx.”
/> VTDx enables automakers to thoroughly test and validate ADAS and autonomous driving systems in a SIL environment to ensure safety and performance.

It is available as a public software-as-a-service (SaaS) on a usage-based fee basis on the Nexus platform, with private cloud deployment available on demand.