ISO 19206-2:2018

Overview

ISO 19206-2:2018 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that defines the requirements for pedestrian targets used in testing the detection and activation performance of vehicle active safety systems. This standard is a critical component in the evaluation and development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies, ensuring that test targets accurately represent real-world pedestrian characteristics for reliable safety system assessment.

Pedestrian targets designed according to ISO 19206-2:2018 simulate adults and children in form, size, movement, and sensor response properties. The standard describes the necessary physical and reflective properties to ensure targets are recognized by the sensing technologies commonly used in active safety systems, such as cameras, radar, and infrared sensors. It also outlines key criteria for target repairability, environmental resilience, and safety for both vehicles and testing personnel.

Key Topics

• Pedestrian Target Specifications

  • Targets must represent both a standard adult (50th-percentile male, walking) and child (6-7 years old, running)
  • Defined dimensions, postures, and articulation for adult and child dummies
  • Realistic, human-like appearance and movement, with optional arm articulation

• Sensor Response Requirements

  • Optical: Non-reflective, human-colored skin surfaces; realistic clothing with specific color and fit for camera-based systems
  • Radar: Radar cross-section (RCS) properties must match those of real pedestrians; micro-Doppler effects for articulated targets
  • Thermal Infrared: For far-infrared (FIR) sensors, optional thermal characteristics should approximate those of a real human

• Functional and Environmental Criteria

  • Targets and carriers must work in a range of operating and storage temperatures (−5°C to +40°C operational, −20°C to +80°C storage)
  • Safety considerations to minimize vehicle damage and injury risk during collisions
  • Repairability for targets after impacts up to 60 km/h

• Target Carrier System

  • Capable of accurate, repeatable positioning and movement of targets
  • Minimal sensor signature interference from carrier components
  • Secure mounting and (if needed) quick-release mechanisms to minimize damage upon impact

Applications

ISO 19206-2:2018 plays a pivotal role in the development, validation, and certification of active safety systems in road vehicles. Its main applications include:

• Automotive Safety Testing: Used by vehicle manufacturers and testing organizations to standardize pedestrian target attributes for evaluating emergency braking and collision avoidance systems.
• ADAS and Autonomous Vehicle Validation: Ensures that pedestrian detection features in ADAS/automated vehicles reliably recognize and respond to simulated real-world scenarios involving vulnerable road users.
• Research and Development: Supports engineers in benchmarking system performance and sensor detection using consistent, reproducible target profiles.
• Regulatory Compliance: Helps testing bodies and OEMs meet international regulations and consumer testing protocols, such as Euro NCAP, that reference standardized test device properties.

Related Standards

For comprehensive active safety validation, ISO 19206-2:2018 should be considered alongside the following related standards:

• ISO 19206-1:2018: Requirements for vehicle targets (complementary standard for vehicle test dummies)
• ISO 19206-4: Focused on powered two-wheeler targets for safety system assessment
• ISO 19237: Describes test procedures that utilize pedestrian targets as specified in ISO 19206-2
• ISO 8855 and ISO 8608: References for vehicle dynamics vocabulary and road surface classifications relevant to testing environments

By following ISO 19206-2:2018, automotive engineers and test professionals can ensure consistency in safety system evaluations, accelerating innovations in pedestrian protection and advancing the deployment of reliable, life-saving vehicle technologies.