AVL and MSC Software to Partner on Autonomous Vehicle Projects

MSC Software, a Hexagon company, and AVL List GmbH in Austria announced a collaborative partnership for research, development and customer projects in the field of simulation and testing of autonomous driving (AD) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) systems. 

AVL is developing a scenario-based open verification and validation toolchain to generate operational scenarios, create the relevant test cases, and execute testing and homologation of automated driving functions in combined virtual and real road environments based on an open and integrated tool environment.

Hexagon's VIRES VTD (Virtual Test Drive) is a tool-suite for the creation, configuration, presentation and evaluation of virtual environments in the scope of road- and rail-based ADAS/AD simulations. It covers a full range from the generation of 3D content to the simulation of complex traffic scenarios and, finally, to the simulation of either simplified or physically driven sensors. Due to its open and modular nature, VTD can easily be interfaced and integrated into other AD applications.

"AVL and MSC have discussed their respective technological and industry backgrounds and have come to the conclusion that a collaboration will create additional value to our customers in the field of testing and validation of automated driving, driver assistance, and active safety systems," says Kai Voigt, EVP of AVL Instrumentation, Software and Technology. "AVL's tool chain strategy is based on an open and integrated tool environment. This approach allows the integration of different tools and content such as VIRES VTD and Adams from MSC, an important aspect of the virtual and real validation of autonomous vehicles."

"VIRES has worked with AVL in EU projects such as Enable-S3 for many years now, as well as together with us at MSC on joint projects at European OEMs," says Paolo Guglielmini, CEO of MSC Software. "As part of this ongoing collaboration, AVL's toolchains will interface with VIRES VTD and MSC's Adams product lines, and our toolchains will interface with AVL's Model.CONNECT product. We believe this gives customers access to some of the best-in-class autonomous simulation and testing technologies available in the world."

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MSC Software

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.