Implementation of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), the Next Step in Euro NCAP's Safety Assessment

Euro NCAP has released its updated rating scheme for 2013-2016 that outlines, amongst other technologies, the implementation of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) technologies within the overall rating scheme. Three types of AEB technologies will be included in the rating scheme, starting with low speed car-to-car AEB City and higher speed car-to-car AEB Inter-Urban in 2014, followed two years later by AEB Pedestrian. In 2011 the Primary Safety Technical Working Group (PNCAP TWG) started working on AEB protocols, where Euro NCAP members have contributed to the development of the Test and Assessment protocols. They have been developed in a relatively short time, by finding the commonalities and discussing the differences between different initiatives from industry, insurers and others that were the main source of input to the working group. Recently, both AEB City and AEB Inter-Urban protocols were finalized. The test protocol details a series of tests, following an incremental speed approach for systems with AEB and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) functionality, and specifies in detail the target vehicle to ensure the highest level of reproducibility and repeatability. The assessment protocols identify the scoring principle and relative weight of each scenario for inclusion in the overall rating scheme. This paper describes both protocols.