Automotive testing technology supplier, AB Dynamics, together with its sister company Dynamic Research, Inc. (DRI), has launched a child version of its pedestrian ADAS target, named the Soft Pedestrian 360. The target has been developed to help customers meet growing demand for child pedestrian testing, with a focus on realism and minimising test downtime.
“The number of Euro NCAP test scenarios that require a child pedestrian target is expanding and will continue to grow,” said Jordan Silberling, general manager of DRI. “We have seen an increase in demand for a child target that caters to these test scenarios and uses the same proven architecture and technology used in the adult version.”
In order to reduce the risk of damage to the test vehicle, the child target uses the same modular architecture as the adult version, to reduce the mass of any individual component that could contact the test vehicle and cause damage. Also, the servos operating the articulating legs are completely encased in foam and sit within each component. This design ensures there are no exposed hard points that could make contact with the test vehicle, protecting the vehicle under test when limbs from the target disconnected upon impact.
“Downtime during testing sessions due to test vehicle damage or target damage is a significant factor in the overall expense of testing,” added Silberling. “Our goal is to help avoid unnecessary delays, ensuring efficient testing.”
The limbs of the child target are attached to the body via foam blocks that engage corresponding sockets in the torso. This design enables the leg sub-assembly to be changed in less than one minute. The same slipper-clutch as used in the adult target is used to stop the servos from being back-driven during a collision, avoiding damage to the target and improving its durability. The cross-compatibility of these components helps to reduce the overall cost of testing and minimises the requirement for storing spare parts.
The child version also uses the same hard-wearing fabric clothing as the adult target, which prevents the foam core from being worn away or torn apart, thus maintaining a consistent shape throughout testing. The clothing can be easily replaced should it become damaged.
DRI also conducted on-track testing to ensure realism of the target, using its in-house-developed radar and Lidar measurement system, to tune the reflectivity of the target. As a result, it accurately represents a child pedestrian to sensor perception systems.
The target also features an age-specific gait that replicates that of a walking child. The movement is automatically synchronised with the position, speed and acceleration of the target relative to a starting point using the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) of the ADAS platform carrying it. This method ensures a realistic, speed-matched gait and removes the requirement to manually adjust the gait for different test scenarios or variations.
“Currently, the legs are articulated as is dictated by the relevant industry regulations,” added Silberling. “But thanks to the modular nature of our technology, we have future-proofed the design to easily articulate the arms and the head should legislation change, or OEMs wish to conduct more extensive testing.”
