Real-world testing is expensive, so it makes good sense to use virtual testing or virtual validation to reduce the amount of real-world testing required to take a product or service to market.

Here at SMLL, our digital representation of our London real-world testbed enables customers to validate the performance of physical systems, components (vehicle, sensor, comms module, software) or models of physical systems, to reduce the time and cost of testing.

The double benefit of using the simulation facilities at SMLL is that we can simplify the pathway to real world testing at SMLL.

Take a high speed tour of the twin in this video.

SIMULATION TOOLKIT

The SMLL simulation toolkit comprises all the constituent parts for customers to integrate our London testbed into their own simulation platforms, prior to testing for real on the roads. Alternatively we can support customers with all these simulation services via innovators such as rFpro. Please contact us for further information about any of the capabilities detailed below.

Representative digital model

Produced from Lidar scans, of the road and footways of the entire 24km of instrumented testbed routes in Greenwich and QEOP, the model is accurate to +/- 5mm (50%), +/- 20mm (50%)

The model includes street furniture and adjacent buildings to add context and create a more realistic visual environment in which other parameters can be adjusted such as light and weather conditions.

BIM data available

Geometry of physical pavements on the test routes: lane widths, gradients, kerb heights, signage
All SMLL roadside infrastructure monitoring assets
Greenwich borough street lighting assets, bollards, trees etc
Utilities information for the routes in QEOP and Greenwich
Road surface data such as roughness, reflectivity etc

Simulation environments

The Royal Arsenal Route is fully available in the CARLA simulator, which when combined with the BIM model produce a HD map defining lane widths and permissible turns etc. Integrations of other sections of the testbed are in progress.

We have also integrated the Autoware platform into CARLA simulator.

As a demonstration of potential use, unique building textures and materials have been added to a 3km section of the Greenwich route for added realism in a VR application optimised for Occulus Rift S. This can be seen in this video.

Signal phase and timing data

We have linked our UTC at SMLL to a VISSIM model. This allows customers to conduct micro traffic simulations, with accurate traffic signals information. A live feed of data from a Transport for London managed red route is also available subject to agreement with TfL.

Crash data and scenario description language

For simulated testing purposes, we can use pre-existing data from STATS-19 and RAIDS which is converted using a scenario description language (SDL). The modelled incidents – based on an intersection on the SMLL testbed - are then available as scenarios within CARLA simulation.

Actual incidents on the testbed during trials are recorded using the IMAAP system developed by TRL Software to monitor and track road traffic incidents.

TRL driving simulator

TRL have a hardware-in-the-loop driving simulator at Crowthorne House. This can be used for validating other simulators or simulations. Or the human-driven vehicle simulator can be integrated with other synthetic assets to validate systems design and performance.

CAM Testbed UK Simulation Interoperability

SMLL is a key delivery partner in the CAM Testbed UK interoperability simulator project being managed by Zenzic on behalf of InnovateUK. Details about this project can be found on the Zenzic website here.