ISO 19206-1:2018

Overview

ISO 19206-1:2018 - "Road vehicles - Test devices for target vehicles... Part 1: Requirements for passenger vehicle rear-end targets" defines performance and design requirements for surrogate vehicle targets used in testing active safety and ADAS functions. The standard specifies how a rear-end test target must represent a passenger vehicle (size, shape, reflection properties, thermal and radar signatures, etc.) so that subject-vehicle sensors reliably detect it in rear-end scenarios with overlap greater than 50%. ISO 19206-1 addresses sensor detection properties, verification methodologies, and target carrier performance, but does not prescribe test speeds, event timing, or pass/fail criteria for the active safety systems.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Target representation: Physical properties that allow the surrogate to mimic passenger vehicles (primarily B and C class cars) in sensor detection and optical appearance.
• Sensor-specific response: Requirements and measurement methods for common sensing technologies - radar (RCS), LiDAR, optical/NIR/CCD, and far-infrared (FIR) thermal systems.
• Reference measurements & calibration: Defined procedures and equipment for measuring target signatures and ensuring repeatable sensor responses.
• Target carrier / motion control: Performance criteria for mechanical carriers that position and move the target (longitudinal, lateral, vertical, yaw/pitch), including speed and acceleration ranges appropriate for typical test protocols.
• Durability & safety: Repairability, crashworthiness considerations and environmental condition requirements to ensure safe repeatable testing.
• Verification and field checks: Normative and informative annexes cover sensor-specific recognition properties, measurement equipment, field verification methods, and examples of existing rear-end targets.

Practical applications and users

ISO 19206-1 is intended for:

• Automotive OEMs and ADAS system developers validating sensor detection and activation logic for rear-end collision scenarios.
• Test laboratories and proving grounds conducting standardized surrogate-target testing.
• Component and sensor manufacturers (radar, LiDAR, thermal cameras) ensuring their devices detect vehicle-like test objects.
• Regulators, certification bodies and standardization committees aligning test setups across labs and jurisdictions.

Practical uses include design validation, reproducible lab and track testing, interoperability of test rigs, and establishing baseline target specifications for test protocols.

Related Standards (if applicable)

• ISO 8855:2011 (vehicle dynamics vocabulary) - referenced for terminology.
• ISO 8608 (road surface profiles) - referenced for vibration/road conditions.
• Other parts of the ISO 19206 series (for targets representing other objects or VRUs).

Keywords: ISO 19206-1, rear-end targets, surrogate vehicle target, ADAS testing, active safety systems, radar cross section, LiDAR, FIR, target carrier, vehicle target specifications.