One second to feel the sun shining brightly, the next second to feel the torrential rain
How many environmental tests do self-driving cars have to pass?
On August 5th, at the Wuhan Intelligent Connected Vehicle Test Site, a reporter from Changjiang Daily followed in the footsteps of the test site staff and experienced the top ten scene test areas.
Stepping into the testing ground, the most striking thing is two white buildings about 250 meters long side by side.
Project leader Li Jixin introduced that one of them is a signal shielding warehouse with two-way two-lane lanes, which is used to simulate the signal shielding test of intelligent networked vehicles in tunnels, so as to maximize the development and verification of autonomous vehicles.
The other is the extreme weather environment warehouse.
Walking into the extreme weather environment warehouse, a thick fog blocked the reporter's sight, and the visibility was less than 2 meters.
Fumbling to go inside, a heavy rain accompanied by lightning "unexpectedly arrived".
How are the various weather conditions that can be presented in the warehouse simulated?
Liu Hao, chief engineer of the Wuhan Intelligent Connected Vehicle Test Site Project of China Construction Second Bureau, introduced that a total of 1089 lamps are arranged on the steel structure ceiling in the warehouse, and the lamps are divided into 5 types. Adjustment, so as to simulate "cloudy, sunny, thunder and lightning" and other climatic conditions.
In addition, steel pipes and sprinkler devices are installed on the top surface to simulate "rain and fog" weather.
"We set up two rain-making pump stations and five fog-making pump stations outside the warehouse to control the flow and pressure of the rain and fog water pipes. The control system adjusts to achieve various levels of 'rain, fog' modes."
Liu Hao said that in order to make the simulated weather feel more real, AR (augmented reality technology) is also equipped in the warehouse, so that the car can feel the "bright sun" one second before and "heavy rain" the next second, fully Test the stability of the car in extreme climates such as rain, fog, thunder and electricity.
It is worth mentioning that the water falling from rain and fog will enter the circulating pool through the special drainage ditch, the pool can filter and purify the water, and the purified water will enter the rain pumping station again, so as to achieve the recycling of water. Energy saving and environmental protection.
At the next stop, the car began to bump up, which was entering the test area of the rural traffic scene.
Driving through the water, then driving over the gravel road, swaying all the way.
Liu Hao introduced that the scene test area includes 8 test roads including ordinary asphalt road, damaged cement road, waterlogged road, damaged asphalt road, unmarked road, gravel road, sand road, and tree-lined road.
"It's a simulation of what a car might encounter on a country road."
According to reports, the project has ten scene test areas and four laboratory groups. By making full use of advanced technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, 5G, edge computing, and parallel driving, more than 130 test scenes can be combined to form more than 130 test scenes for each intelligent vehicle. The factory of the car is "checked at every level".
Before a traditional car leaves the factory, it needs to travel to various places and undergo performance tests in different terrains and extreme environments. One trip may need to travel all over China.
"The test site we built is like a 'comprehensive supermarket', covering almost all road scenarios such as high-speed loop lines, urban trunk roads, township roads, village roads, and urban interchanges in one click, meeting all the test requirements for smart cars before they leave the factory. "Li Jixin explained.
● Clearing doubts
Why do ICVs go to closed testing?
Why do intelligent networked vehicles need to go to closed test sites for testing in addition to open road testing?
Chang Zhixiong, general manager of Wuhan Xinxing Automobile Industry Development Co., Ltd., explained that the current trilogy of intelligent networked vehicles in my country is "simulation simulation", "closed test" and "on-road test". Under normal circumstances, in order to better avoid traffic hazards and Safety hazards, only after passing the first two steps of the test can go to the open road test.
He said that the license for the production and operation of intelligent networked vehicles can only be issued after the car has passed the three test links.
It is a progressive relationship, and all three steps are essential.
In terms of open test roads, at present, the National New Energy and Intelligent Connected Vehicle Base in Junshan New City, Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone, the total mileage of open test roads for 5G-based vehicle-road collaborative autonomous driving has reached 106 kilometers, and more than 1,800 roads have been deployed. Side intelligent sensing equipment, fully covering 5G communication network, high-precision map, Beidou high-precision positioning network and other related intelligent infrastructure, with L4 level or above self-driving vehicle test operation conditions, becoming the country's largest 5G vehicle-road collaborative autonomous driving demonstration area .
● experience
Dongfeng F1 drivers don't have to go to field for training
On the 5th, at the Wuhan National Intelligent Connected Vehicle Test Site, Zheng Yue, a racing driver from Dongfeng Fengshen Mach Racing Team, said that driving on the new F2 track is very good, and he will not need to go to Shanghai for training in the future.
Luo Kaijie, captain of Dongfeng Fengshen Mach Racing Team, introduced that the team belongs to the technical center of Dongfeng Company, and all the racers have technical positions. For example, Zheng Yue is an automotive chassis engineer.
The team has participated in CTCC national competitions for many consecutive years and won the annual team championship for two consecutive years.
Racing and training across the country is the norm for teams.
Luo Kaijie said that before this, the closest professional track to Wuhan was in Zhuzhou, Hunan, and sometimes he would go to the track in Shanghai for training. Now that there is an F2 track in Wuhan, there is no need to run around for training, which is conducive to improving in the future. Team results.
Zheng Yue believes that this track is second only to Shanghai’s F1 track. In contrast, the new F2 track’s curves combined with the undulating terrain enrich the driving experience of the racers and improve the racing experience. Maneuverability.
Written in this edition: Hao Tianjiao, reporter of Changjiang Daily, Gong Ping, correspondent Zhang Mo Photography: Ren Yong, reporter of Changjiang Daily Graphics: Xiao Qin