Complexity of Autonomous-Systems Simulation, Validation Soars to the Clouds

Scalable, cloud-based architectures are gaining greater acceptance for simulating and testing the myriad development aspects of automated driving.

As the auto industry strives to improve safety and edge towards high-level automated driving, the complexity of proving that electronic vehicle controls will perform safely is skyrocketing. Simulation's expanding role in systems validation is prompting many tool providers to move to scalable, cloud-based architectures that run operations in parallel to shorten analysis times.

Automakers and Tier 1s have acknowledged the value of simulation as an integral tool for getting the myriad software and hardware elements of automated driving to work in collaboration. High-level automated driving requires vehicle controls to “understand” many complex external elements, which have far more variables than conventional on-vehicle systems such as engine controls. Cameras, radar and lidar must monitor pedestrians, vehicles and highway markings.