Virtual Testing of Front Camera Module

The front camera module is a fundamental component of a modern vehicle’s active safety architecture. The module supports many active safety features. Perception of the road environment, requests for driver notification or alert, and requests for vehicle actuation are among the camera software’s key functions. This paper presents a novel method of testing these functions virtually. First, the front camera module software is compiled and packaged in a Docker container capable of running on a standard Linux computer as a software in the loop (SiL). This container is then integrated with the active safety simulation tool that represents the vehicle plant model and allows modeling of test scenarios. Then the following simulation components form a closed loop: First, the active safety simulation tool generates a video data stream (VDS). Using an internet protocol, the tool sends the VDS to the camera SiL and other vehicle channels. The camera SiL performs its functions (e.g., object detection, active safety functions) and provides output (e.g., braking request) to the active safety simulation tool. The vehicle plant model updates the vehicle state (e.g., applies braking). The vehicle’s position is updated in the context of the test scenario, and a new VDS frame is generated. Preliminary results are presented and discussed along with potential uses of this simulation setup in vehicle active safety development.