AV Safety Assessment Framework – Stage 1: Physical- Based Testing for Functionality Capability of AV

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive physical-based assessment methodology tailored for autonomous vehicles (AVs) within Malaysian driving scenarios under the safety assessment framework. The study investigates the potential requirement to conduct the first level of safety assessment for autonomous vehicles based on international standards. This study discusses a detailed evaluation of sensor functionality and a case study analysis to validate the proposed assessment criteria. The outcome of this study addressed the critical need for localized testing based on Malaysia's unique driving conditions, which is essential for enhancing AV safety and performance. Therefore, the Smart Campus Autonomous Vehicle (SCAV) developed by Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) is used as a case study for the physical-based assessment. The proposed physical assessment methodology is classified as Stage 1 assessment which evaluates the effectiveness of AV in assessing and improving sensors capability to ensure the vehicle's safety to perform self-driving capability. The findings affirm the framework's potential as a foundational tool for advancing the safety testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles in Malaysia, ensuring they meet local and international safety standards.