Virtual Reality and Hardware In-the-Loop Testing Methods in the eCall In-Vehicle Module Research and Verification

Abstract

The main feature and purpose of the eCall in-vehicle unit is to initiate autonomously an emergency call, to extend it with a data message containing information of current position of the vehicle, its prior-to-crash speed, type of the vehicle, VIN, VRN, number of passengers travelling, and other available information which can be of substantial value to the operator of the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), allowing the officer responsible for receiving incoming 112 emergency calls despatching paramedic squads in appropriate numbers and suitable equipped. The main purpose of the project is to design a testing methodology and set-up a testing bench for the research and certification of the in-vehicle e-Call system units. The test stand should allow reproduction of precise and pre-programmed testing sequences of conditions, to excite the device-under-test sensors and its signal inputs, and to relate their logged data and observed control outputs to the reference set of values used during simulation.