These tracks will complement Applus+ IDIADA’s existing facilities and allow the simulation of any type of scenario relating to the testing of CAV systems, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure connectivity, as well as advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) development. The new facility will generate more adaptation possibilities, enabling the use of a variety of test equipment in optimum test conditions, taking into account greater flexibility, safety and high standards of confidentiality.
As well as access to the test area, the complex includes two distinct working areas. The first is orientated to the testing of autonomous vehicles and their systems, while the second performs tests to simulate situations at intersections in urban and interurban areas. The entire road surface amounts to more than five hectares.
This new test complex was designed to hold up to 10 development teams and their vehicles simultaneously. The teams will be able to work in parallel in the different areas assigned to the ADAS system tests, such as vehicle-to-vehicle emergency braking systems (AEB), pedestrian detection systems (AEB VRU), lane departure warning systems (LDW), lane keeping assistance (LKA), automatic braking systems for animal crossing (ELK), roadside detection systems, blind spot detection systems (BSD), automatic lane change assistance (LCA) and all of the requirements of the next Euro NCAP 2020 protocol.
This new infrastructure has the flexibility to be used to simulate future traffic scenarios, such as high-speed intersections and highway simulations. The test area will have the entire communication network necessary to test the vehicle’s connectivity (802.11p, 2G, 3G), with its own 4G and 5G networks available throughout.
The construction project was consolidated at the end of 2018, with an investment allocation of EUR 4 million. Construction is expected to start during February and March 2019, with the works due to be complete and the test track in operation between September and October 2019.