Field operational tests: challenges and methods

Currently field operational tests are being performed in Europe in which vehicles are equipped with the systems under investigation. Participating drivers use the vehicles during their daily routines and large amounts of data are gathered by sensors capturing driver and vehicle behaviour, and driving context. A methodology for preparing and performing tests of in-vehicle systems has been developed within the European FESTA project. To support the development and execution of field operational tests, both at a European and national level, the European FOT-Net project organises knowledge transfer and networking. During seminars and workshops a large number of challenges and issues were identified concerning the definition of hypotheses, baselines and incidents, the challenges of testing multiple systems, dealing with large data- sets, and ethical problems. We will discuss some directions for solutions.