Introduction to AV Safety Standards
Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) must prioritize safety to gain public trust and regulatory approval. Safety standards ensure that AV systems can handle diverse scenarios without risking human lives. Evaluating reliability involves rigorous testing methods to identify and mitigate failures.
Key approaches include:
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Simulations: Virtual environments that replicate real-world driving conditions, allowing millions of test miles without physical risks. For example, companies like Waymo use simulations to test edge cases, such as sudden pedestrian crossings or adverse weather.
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Verification and Validation (V&V): Verification checks if the system is built correctly (e.g., does the code implement the intended algorithm?), while validation ensures it meets real-world requirements (e.g., does it safely navigate urban traffic?).
These methods build on end-to-end learning approaches by stress-testing neural networks in controlled settings, reducing the need for on-road trials.