BENGALURU, India, Mar 6, 2025 – Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division introduces a new cloud-native solution to test, train, and validate Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle systems. Utilizing hyperscale computing and automation, Virtual Test Drive X (VTDx) enables the automotive industry to validate the quality and function of software against thousands of real-world scenarios automatically, accelerating the time to market for safe mobility innovations.
The role of software in vehicle design is driving innovation in convenience and safety features. However, the increasing complexity of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), which incorporate advanced sensors, chips, operating systems, and AI algorithms, poses noteworthy challenges for automotive teams, particularly in the development and deployment of ADAS features. This complexity often results in holdups during software development and testing, impacting vehicle launches and feature rollouts. Safety and compliance is paramount, but the business impact is also tangible – underperforming ADAS features frustrate customers and vehicle recalls significantly impact brand loyalty and profits.
Ensuring the quality and safety of ADAS software is both costly and time-consuming, yet essential, as defect correction at the production stage incurs higher expenses. VTDx addresses these challenges through a scalable, consumption-based service that enhances virtual prototyping while reducing delays, costs, and safety risks linked to physical testing. This Software as a Service (SaaS) solution is designed from the ground up to leverage cloud computing and automation within Hexagon‘s Nexus digital reality platform. It enables software teams to integrate thorough testing into continuous test and integration workflows, optimizing development processes for ADAS and autonomous vehicle systems.
Through an intuitive web interface, ADAS engineers can design and configure their system under test (SUT), such as ADAS algorithms. They can validate their SUT using physics-based simulations powered by Hexagon’s environment simulation engine. When developers run a test, VTDx executes the OpenDRIVE and OpenSCENARIO standard compliant software-in-the-loop (SIL) test programs. By orchestrating tens or thousands of simulations — of as many scenarios as needed — automatically and simultaneously, companies can reduce delays in configuration and computing time for their standardized SIL test programs.
VTDx supports the evolving landscape of ADAS as centralized electrical/electronic (E/E) architectures become standard and regulatory requirements tighten. It facilitates advanced SDV testing strategies that align with modern software development methodologies while integrating essential physical safety testing practices specific to the ADAS component of the vehicle codebase. Its high-productivity, highly scalable code test and integration approach provides:
- Continuous integration and continuous testing (CI/CT): Enables continuous development, integration, and testing, allowing for faster software iterations and releases.
- Seamless workflow integration: Easily integrates with existing ADAS development toolchains, embedding into existing customer workflows with modern, well-defined APIs and open environment simulation standards.
- Ease of use: Intuitive configurations of sensors and test scenarios with user-friendly operation.
- Scalability: Supports parallel scenario execution and real-time collaboration among global teams, making it scalable for various ADAS development needs.
- Cloud availability: Available as a public or private SaaS, VTDx can be easily deployed by small and large organizations with consumption-based pricing and 24-7 availability.
- Accessibility: Users can share a project with globally-spread team members, making scenario setups and results available in real-time through an intuitive web-based user experience.
VTDx has gained positive feedback from Hexagon’s automotive OEM and Tier one clients. Users appreciate its easy-to-use, high-efficiency interface. The system automates thousands of code-test simulations without manual input. It also offers pricing based on actual usage. It was developed in collaboration with the Microsoft Azure team, realizes photorealistic visualization via the Unreal Engine, and provides support for the ASAM-maintained OpenSCENARIO and OpenDRIVE standards.
“We embarked on a journey to build our cloud-based ADAS simulation software from the ground up with CI/CT processes in mind, addressing the software development challenges our automotive customers face today. Whether aiming to increase test coverage, shorten test cycles, or automate workflows, our VTDx solution offers significant benefits,” said Mahesh Kailasam, general manager at Hexagon’s manufacturing intelligence division.
VTDx allows automakers to test their ADAS and autonomous vehicle systems in an SIL setting. This ensures both safety and performance. It is offered as a public SaaS with a pay-per-use pricing model on Nexus. Private cloud options are available upon request.
Source: Hexagon
About Hexagon
Hexagon AB, established in 1975, is a leader in digital reality solutions, integrating sensor, software, and autonomous technologies to empower an autonomous future. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Hexagon operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 24,500 people. The company serves a diverse range of industries, including construction, mining, agriculture, aerospace, automotive, defense, and manufacturing. Its offerings encompass reality capture measurement, intelligent positioning, situational intelligence, and industrial design solutions. In 2023, Hexagon reported annual revenues of approximately €5.44 billion. Over the years, Hexagon has grown through strategic acquisitions, with over 170 since 2000, positioned itself at the forefront of digital transformation, enabling clients to leverage data for enhanced efficiency, productivity, quality, and safety across various applications.
