The 16th European ITS Congress held in Seville June 2-4 was an outstanding edition that brought together more than 3,000 participants in the field of Autonomous Mobility and Intelligent Transport Systems, with the goal of accelerating the implementation of Intelligent Transport Systems-ITS across Europe. Francesco Valentini of Radiolabs participated in the panel addressing PNT challenges for CCAM (cooperative and connected driving) through the ESA NAVISP program, with a talk focusing on the validation and certification process of multi-sensor devices with the P-CAR Center.
More automated vehicles and smarter road infrastructure technologies are evolving rapidly, paving the way for new cost-effective ways to validate technology before putting vehicles on the road. With the European Space Agency’s NAVISP – 3 program, Radiolabs is developing P-CAR, a Virtualized Test System to validate and support certification of PNT solutions for connected vehicles and smart roads. The new Phase 2 of P-CAR, funded by the Italian Space Agency, will extend the capabilities of this facility-under construction in the city of L’Aquila-beyond the validation of PNT devices to include telecommunications and cybersecurity solutions to jointly ensure a safe autonomous vehicle that is always connected and protected from possible cyber threats.
A key factor in the design was the creation of hybrid test environments fully representative of operational scenarios. This approach-highly recommended by stakeholders-will minimize the need to test vehicles on the road, instead combining simulations and introduction of possible failures with the Everything-in-the-Loop(XiL) approach and a controlled, repeatable digital twin of operational environments. These features make the P-CAR center unique in Europe, paving the way for its recognition as an independent laboratory for automobile manufacturers, Tier 1 equipment suppliers, and satellite technologies. In particular, to evaluate the effects of possible very rare malfunctions that can occur with GNSS, V2X and digital maps, which are difficult to detect with road tests alone but must be mitigated as they affect safety.
These distinctive features of the P-CAR Center and its ability to operate remotely by connecting facilities in L’Aquila with end users and other laboratories are being addressed through the ESA NAVISP Program with the contribution of the ASI. This collaboration is critical as we are facing a crucial challenge with huge market potential for satellite technologies related to the production of connected driving-enabled vehicles that are safe and secure and in line with the European Commission’s Action Plan for the European Automotive Industry.
