Overview
ISO 34502:2022 - "Road vehicles - Test scenarios for automated driving systems - Scenario based safety evaluation framework" - provides guidance for a scenario-based safety evaluation process for automated driving systems (ADS). Intended for ADS as defined in ISO/SAE PAS 22736 and for vehicle categories 1 and 2, the standard is specifically applicable to limited access highways. It complements SOTIF (ISO 21448) and ISO 26262 by focusing on scenario-driven evaluation of the intended functionality rather than human–machine interface, cybersecurity, misuse, or non-safety aspects (comfort, energy, traffic flow).
Key topics and technical scope
- A structured, product-development integrated process for scenario-based safety evaluation, including:
- Integration into development and safety test objectives
- Specification of the relevant scenario space
- Derivation of critical scenarios based on risk factors
- Derivation and allocation of test scenarios and concrete test cases
- Test execution and safety evaluation
- The standard contains clauses with requirements and recommendations, plus specified work products and conformity requirements.
- Informative annexes cover practical methods and supporting topics:
- Physics principles for scenarios
- Traffic-, perception-, and vehicle-control related critical scenarios
- Structuring scenarios with criticality analysis
- Qualification of virtual test platforms
- Scenario databases, parameter variation methods, segmentation, behavioural safety assessment, risk evaluation, constrained-random testing, and traffic-data sufficiency
Practical applications
- Use ISO 34502:2022 to build a repeatable, evidence-based safety evaluation program for ADS on highways:
- Define scenario spaces and parameter ranges for virtual and physical testing
- Identify and prioritize critical scenarios that challenge perception, decision-making and control
- Allocate test cases across simulation, closed-course and on-road verification
- Evaluate whether an ADS is free from unreasonable risks within its intended operational design domain (limited access highways)
- Helps demonstrate compliance with SOTIF objectives and provides inputs for functional safety planning (ISO 26262 scope separation)
Who should use this standard
- Automotive OEMs and tier-1 system suppliers developing automated driving systems
- ADS safety engineers, test engineers and verification teams
- Simulation and test-platform providers (virtual test platform qualification)
- Regulators, certification bodies and independent test labs that assess ADS safety claims
Related standards and keywords
- Related: ISO 21448 (SOTIF), ISO 26262, ISO/SAE PAS 22736
- SEO keywords: ISO 34502:2022, automated driving systems, scenario-based safety evaluation, ADS test scenarios, critical scenarios, limited access highways, virtual test platforms, behavioural safety, scenario database.
Open preview (PDF)Road vehicles — Test scenarios for automated driving systems — Scenario based safety evaluation framework
