New SAFER connected project: Making Driver Assistance Systems Safer and More Robust in VERDAS
We are pleased to introduce a new partner project, VERDAS (Verification Methods for Robust Driver Assist System Performance), designed to improve road safety for future automated vehicles. By developing advanced physical and virtual testing methods, this project aims to ensure driver assistance systems perform reliably in real-world accident scenarios – with a special focus on protecting vulnerable road users, like pedestrians and cyclists.
Why is this important?
Despite years of progress in driver assistance systems, limitations still exist when it comes to handling real-world accidents. Retrospective studies show fewer severe injuries and fatalities, but Euro NCAP (the European New Car Assessment Programme) has highlighted the need for more robust safety systems in their Vision 2030.
From 2026, Euro NCAP will introduce new testing methods to rate the robustness of safety systems, including more real-world accident scenarios and virtual testing. This is where VERDAS comes in:
- Developing methods to test safety systems against a wider range of accidents.
- Combining physical and virtual verification methods to cover complex traffic environments and interactions with other road users.
- Focusing on improving safety for the most vulnerable – pedestrians and cyclists.
How will it work?
The project, funded by Vinnova, will run from May 2024 to May 2025, led by AstaZero AB, and supported by a strong group of SAFER partners.
Together, the project will:
- Analyze real-world accident data to define robust test scenarios.
- Develop new methods to test driver assistance systems.
- Use virtual tools alongside physical testing to evaluate safety performance.
All work will be done in close collaboration with Euro NCAP to ensure that these methods support their 2026 rating updates. This project marks an exciting step toward safer roads and more reliable safety systems for everyone – especially those most at risk.
Partners: AstaZero AB, If Insurance, Folksam, Trafikverket, Volvo Car Corporation, Toyota, Zenseact, Aptiv, Terranet Tech AB and Viscando AB.
