Traffic Scenarios for Automated Vehicle Testing: A Review of Description Languages and Systems

Abstract

Testing and validation of the functionalities and safety of automated vehicles shifted from a distance-based to a scenario-based method in the past decade. A number of domain-specific languages and systems were developed to support scenario-based testing. The aim of this paper is to review and compare the features and characteristics of the major scenario description languages and systems (SDLS). Each of them is designed for different purposes and with different goals; therefore, they have their strengths and weaknesses. Their characteristics are highlighted with an example nontrivial traffic scenario that we designed. We also discuss some directions for further development and research of these SDLS.

Keywords

• scenario description
• SDL
• domain specific language
• DSL
• automated vehicles
• scenario-based testing