New Bicycle ADAS Target Launched

  • The Soft Bicycle 360 improves test efficiency and reduces damage to test vehicles

  • The ADAS target is 30% lighter than comparable alternatives, significantly reducing its impact on the vehicle under test

  • The single-piece bike frame and a modular rider with an abrasion-resistant skin layer create a highly durable target

    Bradford on Avon, UK, 21st October 2024. Leading automotive test solution supplier AB Dynamics, together with sister company Dynamic Research, Inc. (DRI), has announced the launch of the Soft Bicycle 360™ ADAS target. Being 30% lighter than comparable targets, whilst maintaining stiffness, it has been designed to reduce the potential for damage to vehicles under test whilst being highly durable. The result is increased uptime and improved testing efficiency.

    The launch of the Soft Bicycle 360 comes at a time when cyclist safety is under increasing scrutiny. According to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), cyclist fatalities as a percentage of all traffic fatalities has been increasing since 2003 and when comparing data from 2007 to 2018, although total traffic fatalities decreased by 11%, cyclist fatalities increased by 22%[1].  It is a similar situation in Europe too. The European Commission has reported that cyclists are the only road user group in the EU where the number of fatalities has not declined since 2010[2].

    As a result, Euro NCAP has stated in its Vision 2030 roadmap[3] that it will expand its crash avoidance testing, including new scenarios with cyclists. The organisation has also added multiple cyclist AEB test scenarios to its recently announced draft HGV rating scheme as part of its Safer Trucks programme.

    “As the number of cyclist test scenarios grow and become increasingly more complex, we have seen a demand for a next-generation ADAS target,” said Nate Kuhl, Product Development Engineer at DRI. “As an independent testing provider conducting ADAS tests for manufacturers every day, we know that even relatively minor damage to a test vehicle, such as knocking a sensor out of alignment, can cause severe delays to test programmes. Target pliability, durability and testing efficiency are absolutely critical for test engineers and we have designed the Soft Bicycle 360 to be market-leading in these areas.”

    The Soft Bicycle 360 features a single-piece frame architecture that removes the requirement for connectors, which are prone to failure, and eliminates the need for time-consuming rebuilds after impact. It is manufactured from a thin rubberised material, with strategically-placed internal reinforcement encased within the frame to provide the necessary stiffness.

    The rider’s legs, arms and torso are made from hollow light-weight material, all of which is wrapped in abrasion-resistant clothing for added durability. The materials used for the rider and the bicycle have also been optimised to generate representative radar reflectivity, ensuring precise sensor characterisation in ADAS test scenarios.

    "ADAS target design is often a delicate balance between ensuring it is compliant, in case of impact with the test vehicle, and also maximising stability in dynamic conditions to accurately represent a real cyclist," says Kuhl. "The Soft Bicycle 360 is softer, lighter, and more stable than existing options while meeting all the relevant industry ISO standards, such as ISO 19206-4.”

    One of the standout features of the Soft Bicycle 360 is its advanced wheel design. The wheel rim is made from a durable plastic core encased within foam and a rubberised skin layer. This not only creates the tyre profile but also eliminates any protruding hard points of the rim that could contact the test vehicle. It is connected to a hub via soft nylon string wheel spokes, which are less likely to break or damage the test vehicle compared to metal alternatives. This significantly improves the durability and repairability of a critically exposed area of a bicycle target.

    The wheels make contact with the road using the same patented technology featured on the Soft Motorcycle 360™, meaning the wheel speed is inherently speed-matched and lateral forces are reduced to improve wheel stability.

    Additionally, the design of the frame and wheel provide the capability to travel in both forward and backward directions. This enables the target to be quickly returned to its starting position in reverse to repeat the test, significantly improving test efficiency.

    “Damage to the vehicle under test caused by hitting an ADAS target, or damage to the target itself, can severely impact test programmes,” continues Kuhl. “Our durability tests have shown that the performance of the Soft Bicycle 360 is market-leading. This is a result of careful material selection and creative manufacturing. In addition to being durable, the soft materials we use in the frame and other components led to a gentler collision with test vehicles compared to alternatives.”

    The Soft Bicycle 360 is compatible with AB Dynamics’ range of target motion platforms, including the LaunchPad™ Spin, LaunchPad 50/60 and the LaunchPad 80 when used with a side platform.

    The new target will be featured at the Automotive Testing Expo North America at Novi, Michigan between October 22nd-24th on AB Dynamics’ stand (8016). It will also be demonstrated alongside the expo at AB Dynamics’ Open House event a short drive from the venue. To attend the open house, contact info@abdynamics.com.

    [1] https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS1901.pdf

    [2] https://road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-06/road_safety_thematic_report_cyclists.pdf#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20more%20than%202%2C000%20road%20deaths%20among,ten%20recorded%20fatalities%20in%20traffic%20is%20a%20cyclist.

    [3] https://cdn.euroncap.com/media/74468/euro-ncap-roadmap-vision-2030.pdf

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