Safety concept in accordance with AFGBV and accompanying research

This subsection of the project addresses the implementation and supplementation of relevant aspects of the Law on Autonomous Driving (GAF), as substantiated in the Autonomous Vehicles Approval and Operation Ordinance (AFGBV) that came into effect on 1st July 2022. Expansion of this legal norm could provide a basis for future verification of the performance capabilities of an automated driving vehicle. At the same time, new inspection technologies are to be developed to enable the validation of such vehicles in their operational context within the framework of periodic roadworthiness inspections. In its role as legal expert and consultant, IKEM is to analyse and systematise the new legal stipulations as they relate to approval processes, technical supervision requirements and vehicle operations, giving due consideration to questions of liability. This is intended to maximise legal certainty regarding integration of the provisions for technical supervision into the overall concept of ABSOLUT II and to enable trial operations to be conducted in compliance with all legal requirements. The legal analysis, in combination with experience gained from development and operation, will also help to identify need for amendment of the current legislation, and can on this basis offer recommendations for improvement of the legal framework.

Tasks and objectives:

1. Elaboration of a legal study on the required approval process pursuant to §§1d ff. StVG (German Road Traffic Act) and assessment of the liability risk in accordance with GAF and AFGBV
2. Definition and implementation of a dataset (signals, events and integrity attributes) for evaluation of the performance capabilities of the automated driving vehicle on the basis of the extended dataset and event triggers referenced by §15 AFGBV and listed there in Annex 2
3. Development and prototypical implementation of a verification procedure for dataset retrieval, evaluation and presentation via standardised interfaces
4. Definition and implementation of an interface for manual interaction with the automated driving vehicle within the framework of periodic roadworthiness inspections
5. Scientific appraisal of methods for communication with the control centre providing for technical supervision and elaboration of a legal study on the role of the technical supervisor (tasks and duties)
6. Derivation of recommendations for action and elaboration of a legislation roadmap for future amendments to AFGBV