European CCAM knowledge hub and tools for safe and scalable deployment (CCAM Partnership)

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:

• Extended EU-wide Knowledge Base with tools supporting the safe and practical deployment of CCAM in Europe, identifying business needs and trends, including exploitation and maintenance plans to ensure the long-term availability and usage of the Knowledge Base.

• Enhanced exchanges and cooperation among CCAM stakeholders (in particular public authorities, citizens and user groups) in Europe and with countries beyond Europe on R&I and deployment topics of common interest.

• Strengthened exchanges between EU Member States and Associated Countries and coordination with a possible future Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on CCAM as referred to in the Automotive Action Plan.

• Accelerated implementation of practical safety assessment approaches and procedures from current validation projects across Member States and Associated Countries, reusing Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) concepts and respecting the specific integration aspects and legal conditions per MS.

• A secure application exchange platform that enables applicants and Member States and Associated Countries to collaborate in obtaining open road-testing permits.

• EU-wide federated scenario database[1] for the validation of CCAM systems linked to European in-depth accident databases.

Scope:

Several coordination and stakeholder concertation tools have been established to support the alignment and international outreach of CCAM projects. The FAME project developed a European framework for CCAM testing, evaluation and data sharing and managed the EU-wide Knowledge Base that consolidates information related to CCAM R&I and testing based on results from European and national projects, aiding researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals The platform will be extended in the project funded under the call HORIZON-CL5-2024-D6-01-05[2] to address public authorities and citizens.

Regular events such as the European Conference on Connected and Automated Driving (EUCAD) and EUCAD symposia, international outreach activities and interactions with the Member States Advisory Group (SRG), extend the work of the CCAM Partnership and facilitate and support international dialogues to exchange knowledge and align activities across Europe and globally, at research and regulatory level.

The purpose of this exchange and alignment is to address and overcome barriers to the deployment of Automated Vehicles (AV) in Europe. Since 2022, Europe has introduced several regulatory developments aimed at facilitating the rollout of highly automated vehicles. The Implementing Act for Automated Driving Systems 2022/1426, the amendment to the Delegated Regulation 2022/2236 on type-approval, as well as the UNECE WP.29 Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA) have all proposed frameworks and methods to ensure the safety of CCAM systems on the road. Despite these advances, a major challenge persists: the fragmented regulatory landscape for CCAM in Europe, which continues to hinder large-scale deployment. The FAME[3] and Hi-Drive[4] projects are working on recommendations for a harmonized open road-testing framework. Projects like HEADSTART[5], SUNRISE[6], and SYNERGIES are operationalizing the UNECE New Assessment/Test Method for Automated Driving (NATM) scenario-based approach. The project funded by call HORIZON-CL5-2024-D6-01-02[7] will extend the safety assurance framework (SAF) with ‘In-Service Monitoring and Reporting’ post-deployment. Coordination mechanisms are essential as Member States update regulations to align perspectives and support common approval procedures.

Proposed actions are expected to address the following aspects:

• Extend the EU Knowledge Base with practical tools that support safe deployment, not only supporting researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals, but also addressing public authorities and citizens, to establish and prepare the implementation of a long-term sustainability plan for structure.

• Accelerate the exchange and cooperation between relevant European and international stakeholders, including Member States and Associated Countries, with the purpose to accelerate deployment. This by means of co-organizing high-level events such as the EUCAD conference and to coordinate with a large-scale cooperation (such as an IPCEI).

• Develop and implement practical safety assessment procedures, as well as a framework for the secure exchange of applications for open road-testing permits across European Member States, with acknowledgement for specific MS regulations and context.

• Support the realization of EU-wide federated scenario databases, with European in-depth accident databases.

The project funded under this topic is expected to continue the management and hosting of the CCAM Technology Observatory, including its database and content.

[1] https://synergies-ccam.eu/

[2] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101203053

[3] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101069898

[4] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101006664

[5] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/824309

[6] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101069573

[7] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101203230