ISO 34502:2022

Overview

ISO 34502:2022 - "Road vehicles - Test scenarios for automated driving systems - Scenario based safety evaluation framework" - provides guidance for a scenario-based safety evaluation process for automated driving systems (ADS). Intended for ADS as defined in ISO/SAE PAS 22736 and for vehicle categories 1 and 2, the standard is specifically applicable to limited access highways. It complements SOTIF (ISO 21448) and ISO 26262 by focusing on scenario-driven evaluation of the intended functionality rather than human–machine interface, cybersecurity, misuse, or non-safety aspects (comfort, energy, traffic flow).

Key topics and technical scope

• A structured, product-development integrated process for scenario-based safety evaluation, including:
  • Integration into development and safety test objectives
  • Specification of the relevant scenario space
  • Derivation of critical scenarios based on risk factors
  • Derivation and allocation of test scenarios and concrete test cases
  • Test execution and safety evaluation
• The standard contains clauses with requirements and recommendations, plus specified work products and conformity requirements.
• Informative annexes cover practical methods and supporting topics:
  • Physics principles for scenarios
  • Traffic-, perception-, and vehicle-control related critical scenarios
  • Structuring scenarios with criticality analysis
  • Qualification of virtual test platforms
  • Scenario databases, parameter variation methods, segmentation, behavioural safety assessment, risk evaluation, constrained-random testing, and traffic-data sufficiency

Practical applications

• Use ISO 34502:2022 to build a repeatable, evidence-based safety evaluation program for ADS on highways:
  • Define scenario spaces and parameter ranges for virtual and physical testing
  • Identify and prioritize critical scenarios that challenge perception, decision-making and control
  • Allocate test cases across simulation, closed-course and on-road verification
  • Evaluate whether an ADS is free from unreasonable risks within its intended operational design domain (limited access highways)
• Helps demonstrate compliance with SOTIF objectives and provides inputs for functional safety planning (ISO 26262 scope separation)

Who should use this standard

• Automotive OEMs and tier-1 system suppliers developing automated driving systems
• ADS safety engineers, test engineers and verification teams
• Simulation and test-platform providers (virtual test platform qualification)
• Regulators, certification bodies and independent test labs that assess ADS safety claims

Related standards and keywords

• Related: ISO 21448 (SOTIF), ISO 26262, ISO/SAE PAS 22736
• SEO keywords: ISO 34502:2022, automated driving systems, scenario-based safety evaluation, ADS test scenarios, critical scenarios, limited access highways, virtual test platforms, behavioural safety, scenario database.