ISO 34505:2025

Overview

ISO 34505:2025 - Road vehicles - Test scenarios for automated driving systems - Scenario evaluation and test case generation defines a methodology to evaluate scenarios and a procedure to extend scenarios into test cases for automated driving systems (ADS). Applicable to Level 3 and higher ADS (per ISO/SAE PAS 22736), the standard specifies the necessary characteristics of test cases (for example unified identifiers, test objectives, inputs, steps, platforms, and expected results) and focuses on testing for functional safety and safety of the intended functionality (SOTIF). The guidance is also broadly applicable to non-safety test scenarios.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scenario evaluation: Criteria and methods to assess scenarios by frequency, criticality, complexity, and their relation to functional and technical requirements.
• Test case characteristics: Required elements such as identifiers, objectives, concrete inputs, execution steps, target platforms (simulation, closed-track, real-world), and expected outcomes.
• Coverage analysis: Measuring coverage with respect to system requirements, operational design domain (ODD), and test criteria.
• Test case generation: Procedures to extend prioritized scenarios into concrete, repeatable test cases suitable for virtual and physical execution.
• Prioritization & optimization: Methods to rank scenarios and optimize a prioritized set of test cases for efficient validation and regression testing.
• Test evaluation lifecycle: Guidance for evaluation before execution (selection and priority), during execution (initialization, monitoring), and after execution (comparison of specified vs. executed cases, simulation validity, and exposure assessment).
• Applicability: Directly applicable to Level 3+ ADS; content also useful for non-safety validation activities.

Practical applications and users

ISO 34505:2025 is intended for organizations and roles involved in ADS validation and safety assurance:

• OEMs and Tier‑1 suppliers creating validation programs and test plans.
• Validation and verification teams building scenario libraries and automated test benches.
• Safety engineers performing functional safety and SOTIF assessments.
• Test labs and simulation providers standardizing test case formats and execution procedures.
• Regulators and conformity assessors seeking objective criteria for scenario coverage and test reproducibility.

Typical uses:

• Converting high-level scenarios into executable test cases for simulation, track, or road tests.
• Prioritizing test suites to focus on high-risk or high-frequency scenarios.
• Demonstrating test coverage of an ODD and supporting safety case documentation.

Related standards

• ISO/SAE PAS 22736 (ADS levels and definitions)
• ISO 26262 (functional safety of road vehicles)
• ISO 21448 (SOTIF - safety of the intended functionality)

Keywords: ISO 34505:2025, test scenarios for automated driving systems, test case generation, scenario evaluation, ADS validation, ODD, SOTIF, functional safety, simulation validity, test coverage, scenario prioritization.