The verification and validation of autonomous vehicles
The automotive industry is continuing to improve advanced driver assistance systems, aiming for higher quality and the introduction of new and powerful functionalities, eventually leading to higher levels of autonomy. With this, we see today’s vehicles turning into computers on wheels. Powerful chips and artificial intelligence will be necessary to guarantee the safety of passengers amid dynamic and hectic surroundings.
In the pursuit of higher levers of autonomy, carmakers are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are safe to go to market, meaning they can safely and reliably navigate the driving environment, over and over, day in and day out. Yet, with the novelty of AV technologies, carmakers also need to build consumer trust in the vehicles by demonstrating their safety and reliability in all possible driving scenarios. But what exactly does that mean? When is an autonomous driving system safe enough to be released to go to market? How can manufacturers make sure that an autonomous driving system is robust enough that the passenger can let go of the steering wheel and rely entirely on the technology?
In a new episode of the Future Car podcast, we try to tackle these questions. In this new episode we talk with Nand Kochhar, VP of Automotive and Transportation, and Gwen van Vugt, Sr. Director Autonomous Vehicles, both of Siemens Digital Industries Software, about the testing and validation of autonomous vehicle systems, and how companies are working to address the challenge of verifying and validating the most complex vehicle systems ever made. You can listen to the episode in the player below!
Nand Kochhar – VP, Automotive & Transportation Industry
Nand Kochhar is the vice president of Automotive and Transportation Industry Strategy for Siemens Digital Industries Software. He joined Siemens in 2020 after nearly 30 years with Ford Motor Company, where he most recently served as Global Safety Systems Chief Engineer. In this capacity, Kochhar was responsible for vehicle safety performance of all Ford and Lincoln brand products globally. He also served as Executive Technical Leader, CAE, and as a member of Ford’s Technology Advisory Board. Kochhar’s tenure at Ford also included executive engineering leadership across a range of disciplines including in product development, manufacturing, digitalization, simulation technology development and implementation.
Kochhar has additionally been active in SAE International, where he has served as Chairman of the Executive standards committee, leader of a cross-industry group focused on driving standards for mobility, autonomous vehicle development, electrification and connectivity. Kochhar also served as Chairman of SAE’s Motor Vehicle Council for 2015-16 terms, after which he was named the Vice Chair of Technical Standards Board (TSB) in 2017 and then TSB Chair in 2018 and 2019.
Kochhar graduated from Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) with a master’s degree in Engineering Mechanics. He was inducted as a member of the Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers at Missouri S&T in 2005. He lives in Northville, Michigan with his wife and two kids.
Gwen van Vugt – Senior Director Autonomous Vehicles at Siemens Digital Industries Software
With degrees in Mechanical and Controls Engineering and General Management, Gwen loves to use his technology and business education to stitch the technical and commercial worlds together. Over a 25 year career, Gwen has maintained a natural curiosity to new technologies and a constant pursuit for business opportunities.
Conor Peick – Thought Leadership Writer
Conor works as a writer covering Automotive and Transportation topics for Siemens Digital Industries Software. In this role, he has helped produce a variety of materials including blogs, articles and whitepapers on automotive topics ranging from wire harness design and manufacturing to embedded software development and overall industry trends.
The Future Car Podcast
Transportation plays a big part in our everyday life and with autonomous and electric cars, micro-mobility and air taxis to name a few, mobility is changing at a rate never before seen. On the Siemens Future Car Podcast we interview industry leaders creating our transportation future to inform our listeners in an entertaining way about the evolving mobility landscape and the people that are helping us realize it. Guests range from C-Level OEM executives, mobility startup founders/CEO’s, pioneers in AI law, Formula 1 drivers and engineers, Smart Cities architects, government regulators and many more. Tune in to learn what will be in your mobility future.
