Key Findings
ISO/PAS 34506:2026, titled “Road vehicles — test scenarios for automated driving systems — Qualification of virtual test environments,” establishes the first international qualification scheme for virtual test environments (VTEs). The standard provides a consistent framework for assessing and validating virtual testing, ensuring that simulation results are trustworthy and suitable for the safe evaluation of automated driving systems.
Technical Details
The standard provides a qualification framework structured across three distinct levels:
- Performance of the simulation environment
- Process of development of the simulation environment
- Usage of the simulation environment
Developed with research funding from Transport Canada, the standard was co-led by Professor Siddartha Khastgir of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick, and Benoit Anctil from Transport Canada, with support from an international group of experts.
Background & Context
Simulation has become a critical component of safety validation because testing every possible driving scenario on public roads is impractical and potentially unsafe. Prior to this publication, there was no internationally agreed-upon method for judging the trustworthiness of a virtual test environment. ISO/PAS 34506:2026 aligns with recently adopted global regulatory frameworks, specifically United Nations UN Regulation No. 185 (UN R185) and Global Technical Regulation No. 26 (GTR 26). These regulations require manufacturers to provide safety evidence using a combination of virtual, track, and real-world testing.
Significance & Outlook
By establishing a common method for qualifying VTEs, the standard supports the evidence submitted for UN R185 type approval without replacing the regulation’s existing requirements. While the primary focus is on automated driving for road vehicles, the standard is designed to be transport-sector agnostic. Consequently, its principles can be applied to the validation of autonomous systems in the aviation and maritime sectors. This standardization is expected to increase confidence in simulation-based testing and accelerate the safe deployment of autonomous technology.
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