Measurable Safety of Automated Driving Functions in Commercial Motor Vehicles - Technological and Methodical Approaches

Fahrerassistenzsysteme sowie automatisiertes Fahren leisten einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Verbesserung der Verkehrssicherheit von Kraftfahrzeugen, insbesondere von Nutzfahrzeugen. Mit der Weiterentwicklung des automatisierten Fahrens steigt hierbei die funktionale Leistungsfähigkeit, woraus Anforderungen an neue, gesamtheitliche Erprobungskonzepte entstehen. Um die Absicherung höherer Stufen von automatisierten Fahrfunktionen zu garantieren, sind neuartige Verifikations- und Validierungsmethoden erforderlich. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, durch die Aggregation von Testergebnissen aus wissensbasierten und datengetriebenen Testplattformen den Übergang von einer quantitativen Kilometerzahl zu einer qualitativen Testabdeckung zu ermöglichen. Die adaptive Testabdeckung zielt somit auf einen Kompromiss zwischen Effizienz- und Effektivitätskriterien für die Absicherung von automatisierten Fahrfunktionen in der Produktentstehung von Nutzfahrzeugen ab. Diese Arbeit umfasst die Konzeption und Implementierung eines modularen Frameworks zur kundenorientierten Absicherung automatisierter Fahrfunktionen mit vertretbarem Aufwand. Ausgehend vom Konfliktmanagement für die Anforderungen der Teststrategie werden hochautomatisierte Testansätze entwickelt. Dementsprechend wird jeder Testansatz mit seinen jeweiligen Testzielen integriert, um die Basis eines kontextgesteuerten Testkonzepts zu realisieren. Die wesentlichen Beiträge dieser Arbeit befassen sich mit vier Schwerpunkten: * Zunächst wird ein Co-Simulationsansatz präsentiert, mit dem sich die Sensoreingänge in einem Hardware-in-the-Loop-Prüfstand mithilfe synthetischer Fahrszenarien simulieren und/ oder stimulieren lassen. Der vorgestellte Aufbau bietet einen phänomenologischen Modellierungsansatz, um einen Kompromiss zwischen der Modellgranularität und dem Rechenaufwand der Echtzeitsimulation zu erreichen. Diese Methode wird für eine modulare Integration von Simulationskomponenten, wie Verkehrssimulation und Fahrdynamik, verwendet, um relevante Phänomene in kritischen Fahrszenarien zu modellieren. * Danach wird ein Messtechnik- und Datenanalysekonzept für die weltweite Absicherung von automatisierten Fahrfunktionen vorgestellt, welches eine Skalierbarkeit zur Aufzeichnung von Fahrzeugsensor- und/ oder Umfeldsensordaten von spezifischen Fahrereignissen einerseits und permanenten Daten zur statistischen Absicherung und Softwareentwicklung andererseits erlaubt. Messdaten aus länderspezifischen Feldversuchen werden aufgezeichnet und zentral in einer Cloud-Datenbank gespeichert. * Anschließend wird ein ontologiebasierter Ansatz zur Integration einer komplementären Wissensquelle aus Feldbeobachtungen in ein Wissensmanagementsystem beschrieben. Die Gruppierung von Aufzeichnungen wird mittels einer ereignisbasierten Zeitreihenanalyse mit hierarchischer Clusterbildung und normalisierter Kreuzkorrelation realisiert. Aus dem extrahierten Cluster und seinem Parameterraum lassen sich die Eintrittswahrscheinlichkeit jedes logischen Szenarios und die Wahrscheinlichkeitsverteilungen der zugehörigen Parameter ableiten. Durch die Korrelationsanalyse von synthetischen und naturalistischen Fahrszenarien wird die anforderungsbasierte Testabdeckung adaptiv und systematisch durch ausführbare Szenario-Spezifikationen erweitert. * Schließlich wird eine prospektive Risikobewertung als invertiertes Konfidenzniveau der messbaren Sicherheit mithilfe von Sensitivitäts- und Zuverlässigkeitsanalysen durchgeführt. Der Versagensbereich kann im Parameterraum identifiziert werden, um die Versagenswahrscheinlichkeit für jedes extrahierte logische Szenario durch verschiedene Stichprobenverfahren, wie beispielsweise die Monte-Carlo-Simulation und Adaptive-Importance-Sampling, vorherzusagen. Dabei führt die geschätzte Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Sicherheitsverletzung für jedes gruppierte logische Szenario zu einer messbaren Sicherheitsvorhersage. Das vorgestellte Framework erlaubt es, die Lücke zwischen wissensbasierten und datengetriebenen Testplattformen zu schließen, um die Wissensbasis für die Abdeckung der Operational Design Domains konsequent zu erweitern. Zusammenfassend zeigen die Ergebnisse den Nutzen und die Herausforderungen des entwickelten Frameworks für messbare Sicherheit durch ein Vertrauensmaß der Risikobewertung. Dies ermöglicht eine kosteneffiziente Erweiterung der Validität der Testdomäne im gesamten Softwareentwicklungsprozess, um die erforderlichen Testabbruchkriterien zu erreichen

Measurable Safety of Automated Driving Functions in Commercial Motor Vehicles

With the further development of automated driving, the functional performance increases resulting in the need for new and comprehensive testing concepts. This doctoral work aims to enable the transition from quantitative mileage to qualitative test coverage by aggregating the results of both knowledge-based and data-driven test platforms. The validity of the test domain can be extended cost-effectively throughout the software development process to achieve meaningful test termination criteria

Measurable Safety of Automated Driving Functions in Commercial Motor Vehicles

With the further development of automated driving, the functional performance increases resulting in the need for new and comprehensive testing concepts. This doctoral work aims to enable the transition from quantitative mileage to qualitative test coverage by aggregating the results of both knowledge-based and data-driven test platforms. The validity of the test domain can be extended cost-effectively throughout the software development process to achieve meaningful test termination criteria

A Big Testing Framework for Automated Truck Driving

Long-distance commercial vehicles are predestined for automated driving due to their high performance and long monotonous routes. Automation offers the prospect of improved road safety, increased fuel efficiency, optimised vehicle utilisation, higher driver productivity and lower freight costs. Even if the widespread use of full automation is not imminent, the vision of accident-free driving accelerates the further development of driver assistance functions to autonomous vehicle stages on the global market. Thestatus quo evaluation refers to large-scale verification as one of the decisive challenges for the economical, reliable and safe use of automated driving functions in truck series development. In this scheme, the evaluation of software releases must be carried outin different phases up to the Start of Production (SoP) to provide an argument that the residual risk is below an acceptable level. In driving simulator tests, various system concepts of a truck series are first evaluated. The verification and validation strategythen performs X-in-the-Loop tests, proving grounds and long-term endurance tests. Finally, homologation meets the market-specific type-approval requirements based on the evidence collected during development. This paper summarises previous works dealingwith the large-scale verification requirements and challenges of intelligent transportation systems. The basis of large-scale verification is presented, including the verification andvalidation procedures commonly used in large-scale verification schemes. The criteria of test completion are specified for assessing the performance of automated driving functions. The quality measures are presented to achieve sufficient reliability within thesoftware quality management process. The several possible topics for future research are identified

The Effect of Audit Committee’s Characteristics on the Audit Report Timeliness: Empirical Evidence from the UK

This paper examines the association between the attributes of the audit committees (ACs) and the audit report timeliness for UK FTSE350 companies over the period 2017 to 2019. In particular, we investigate the impact of AC’s attributes, namely, independence, gender, financial expertise, activity and size; as prescribed by the UK Corporate Governance code (2018) on the audit report lag (ARL). To this end, we employ the OLS regression with robust standard errors based on 633 firm-year observations. Our results indicate that AC’s independence and meeting frequency are associated with a reduction in audit report delay. However, the results also indicate that AC’s gender, financial expertise and size do not influence the audit report timeliness. More interestingly, the UK listed companies, which issue their annual reports during the busy reporting period tend to have longer ARL. In contrast, the high audit fees are significantly associated with shorter ARL. Contrary to the propositions of the critical mass theory, additional analysis reveals that high representation of female directors in ACs would deter the financial reporting timeliness, since it is associated with longer ARL. Our results are also robust for alternate measures for ACs’ attributes of size, activity and expertise. The findings of our study highlight the importance of ACs, as an internal governance mechanism, in enhancing the timeliness and the quality of companies’ financial reporting. It accentuates the role of independent director, as well as the ACs’ meeting, in alleviating any disputes and settling any issue that might hinder the external auditors to release timelier audit report. Our findings also direct the attention of the UK regulators to the importance of providing a clearer definition of the financial expertise required by ACs’ members. In addition, our results also direct the attention of the UK companies to the importance of choosing the female directors’ members in ACs based on their qualification and expertise, rather than their mere representation to satisfy the UK CG recommendation

Seismic response of post-tension shear walls – Outrigger structure

Ovo je istraživanje nastalo kao kombinacija dvaju konstrukcijskih sustava, a to su naknadno prednapeti zidovi jezgre i sustav ukrute (Outrigger) u zgradi sa 40 katova. Primijenjen je Vierendeelov sustav ukrute na jednom katu i na dva kata te su uspoređeni modeli kako bi se saznali najbolji položaji ukrutnih sustava. Jednako tako, proučen je utjecaj naknadno prednapetih zidova jezgre na samo 25 % visine zgrade. Usvojen je najbolji položaj Vierendeelovih sustava ukrute s naknadno prednapetim zidovima jezgre na samo 25 % visine zgrade. Rezultati su pokazali poboljšanje lateralne krutosti uporabom sustava ukrute, a pomak vrha se umanjio za 42 %. Utjecaj naknadno prednapetih zidova jezgre na umanjenje pomaka vrha je 14 %. Utjecaj oba sustava na umanjenje pomaka vrha je 50 %.This research was conducted by combining two structural systems: post-tensioned core walls and an outrigger in a 40-story building. A Vierendeel outrigger system was applied to one and two stories, and a comparison between models was performed to determine the best outrigger locations. In addition, the effect of post-tensioned core walls at only 25 % of the building height was investigated. Subsequently, the best positions of the Vierendeel outrigger system were applied with bonded post-tension core walls at a building height of only 25 %. The results showed an improvement in lateral stiffness using the outrigger, and roof displacement was enhanced by approximately 42 %. The post-tension core walls enhanced roof displacement by approximately 14 %. Both systems worked together to reduce roof displacement by approximately 50 %

The effect of political risk and corporate governance on bank stability in the MENA region: Did the Arab Spring uprisings matter?

This study examines the impact of political risk and corporate governance mechanisms (CGM) on bank stability. The research problem was addressed using a sample of 954 bank-year observations from 14 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries during the period 2010–2018 to take into account the effect of the recent uprisings that broke out in the MENA region (i.e., Arab Spring events). This study uses the three-Stage Least-Squares (3SLS) regression method for data analysis. It is found that political stability enhances banks’ financial stability. Regarding the impact of CGM, it is found that board size, board independence, managerial ownership, and audit committee size and meetings significantly and positively affect bank stability. In contrast, board meetings, board gender diversity, CEO duality, and institutional ownership significantly and negatively affect bank financial stability. By dividing the sample into two subsamples (Arab Spring countries and Non-Arab Spring countries), the results revealed that the Arab uprising events significantly affect the relationship between political stability, CGM, and bank stability

A grand avenue to integrate deep eutectic solvents into biomass processing

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are green solvents that are developing rapidly, used in many types of applications as well as fundamental investigations. The physicochemical properties of DESs are one of the most important factors which led to their increased interest in science and technology. DESs are thermally and chemically stable, non-flammable and have a negligible vapor pressure. Furthermore, most of the newly formulated DESs are liquids at room temperature. DESs are more economical and less expensive compared to ionic liquids. DESs are frequently prepared from renewable and non-toxic precursors, in addition, there are wide selections of biocompatible and biodegradable DESs. Hence, DESs have been used in many applications and processes such as biorefinery, lignocellulose dissolution, bioactive compound extraction and electrochemical applications. In this review, an update of the application of DESs in biomass processing as renewable sources is presented. This review aims to cover as much as possible the ongoing research and applications of DES and invite opinions to broaden the applications of DESs, rather than concentrating on the physicochemical fundamentals of new DESs. The future of these solvents is bright but require further investigations and efforts for a better understanding and future for sustainable resources

Shedding light on lipase stability in natural deep eutectic solvents

This study presents the potential role of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) in a lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis reaction as both a co-solvent in an aqueous solution and as a main solvent. Ammonium salts such as choline chloride (ChCl) were paired with different hydrogen bond donors such as glycerol and malonic acid and sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose). The hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl palmitate by six different lipases: lipase from porcine pancreas (PR), lipase from Candida rugosa (CR), Amano lipase PS, from Burkholderia cepacia (AM), lipase from Rhizopus niveus (RN), lipase acrylic resin from Candida antartica (ARC), lipase B Candida antartica immobilized on Immobead 150, recombinant from Aspergillus oryzae (CALB), were tested in five NADESs. The results showed that NADES3 prepared from ChCl/sucrose was the most promising solvent as it enhanced the activities of both CALB and lipase from porcine pancreas to 355 % and 345 %. The kinetics investigation confirmed the higher catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of lipases in the 40 % of (NADES3) and compared with the aqueous form. The trend achieved by NADES may be a promising approach for applications and further perspectives as genuinely green industrial solvents

Ionic liquid-based green emulsion liquid membrane for the extraction of the poorly soluble drug ibuprofen

Ibuprofen (Ibf) is a biologically active drug (BADs) and an emerging contaminant of concern (CECs) in aqueous streams. Due to its adverse effects upon aquatic organisms and humans, the removal and recovery of Ibf are essential. Usually, conventional solvents are employed for the separation and recovery of ibuprofen. Due to environmental limitations, alternative green extracting agents need to be explored. Ionic liquids (ILs), emerging and greener alternatives, can also serve this purpose. It is essential to explore ILs that are effective for recovering ibuprofen, among millions of ILs. The conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) is an efficient tool that can be used to screen ILs specifically for ibuprofen extraction. The main objective of this work was to identify the best IL for the extraction of ibuprofen. A total of 152 different cation–anion combinations consisting of eight aromatic and non-aromatic cations and nineteen anions were screened. The evaluation was based upon activity coefficients, capacity, and selectivity values. Furthermore, the effect of alkyl chain length was studied. The results suggest that quaternary ammonium (cation) and sulfate (anion) have better extraction ability for ibuprofen than the other combinations tested. An ionic liquid-based green emulsion liquid membrane (ILGELM) was developed using the selected ionic liquid as the extractant, sunflower oil as the diluent, Span 80 as the surfactant, and NaOH as the stripping agent. Experimental verification was carried out using the ILGELM. The experimental results indicated that the predicted COSMO-RS and the experimental results were in good agreement. The proposed IL-based GELM is highly effective for the removal and recovery of ibuprofen