World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations | Session 187 | 20-24 Jun 2022
Geneva
Agenda Item 2.3.
Intelligent Transport Systems and coordination of automated vehicles related activities

33. The Chair of GRVA introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/57, with the proposal for the second iteration of the New Assessment / Test Method (NATM) – Master Document. He also introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/58 amended by WP.29-187-08, a proposal for the NATM guideline for the validation of ADS. He presented WP.29-187-10, including the Guidelines and Recommendations concerning Safety Requirements for Automated Driving Systems. He presented ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/60, with the proposal for recommendations on uniform provisions concerning cyber security and software updates suitable for the purpose of the contracting parties to the 1958 and 1998 Agreements.

34. WP.29 congratulated GRVA for these achievements and endorsed the documents ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/57, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/58 as amended by WP.29-187-08 ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/60 and WP-187-10. The Chair requested the secretariat to issue document WP-187-10 with an official symbol for the next WP.29 session.

35. The representative of OICA presented document WP.29-187-24, Automated Driving Road Map – Main messages from GRVA-13-18, which highlighted the aim of the industry to have a certification scheme for ADS to support the automated driving deployment.

36. The representative of the United States of America, Co-Chair of the IWG on FRAV noted that the group requested to GRVA an extension of the mandate of the IWG until 2024, however, it was not envisioned that the group would engage in rule-making activities at the end of this mandate as requested by OICA. He highlighted that the documents produced during this mandated period would not be mature enough to be converted into a legal document.

37. The representative from Canada, Co-Chair of the IWG on VMAD supported the statements of the Co-Chair of FRAV and expressed concerns related to the requirement to produce a regulation within the timeframe suggested by the industry. Further, he reiterated the importance of conducting the work with agreement neutrality (deliverables can be used for the purpose of the 1958 and 1998 Agreements).

38. The representative of France queried whether the industry was looking for the legal framework to cover ADS as it relates to a specific type of vehicle (Passenger versus Freight or Heavy versus Light vehicles).

39. The representative of the Netherlands, Co-Chair of the IWG on VMAD agreed with the need for regulation but also expressed that there was more work to be done. He explained that his country would prefer to gather more experience through tests and trials before engaging in such activities.

40. The representative of OICA, noted that from the industry perspective, and as agreed at GRVA in May 2022, the extension of the FRAV and VMAD mandates would involve work being done in the first year to finish the global requirements and then the second year would be putting this work into practice through a UN Global Technical Regulation or a UN Regulation. He also noted that the views of all types of vehicles manufacturers were represented in the presentation. and therefore, their request was not limited to a certain category of vehicles.

41. The representative of CLEPA, co-author of the document WP.29-187-24, noted that their concern was not only the items mentioned but also that certain regions initiated legislative activities; and this proposal would support global harmonization.

42. The representative of OICA confirmed the targeted date end of the year 2025 which from his perspective would be realistic. He stated that the pace of the IWGs on FRAV and VMAD should not be the limiting factor for the introduction of ADS on the market.

43. WP.29 agreed to extend the mandates of FRAV and VMAD by two years.

44. WP.29 discussed the format of the collaboration with the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety (WP.1) and the need to appoint an ambassador to WP.1.

45. The representative of Canada stressed that the current work with WP.1 was an exchange of views but not a collaboration and limited to reporting from GRVA to WP.1. He advocated for WP.29 to focus on content, deliverables and timeline. He stressed that GRVA was not the right level for this collaboration as GRVA could not coordinate with the other GRs, as it was the role of WP.29.

46. The representative of Finland agreed with the representative of Canada and proposed that the collaboration would be more practical and at technical level.

47. The representative of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stressed that collaboration was a two-way process. He supported the appointment of a WP.29 ambassador to WP.1 and suggested that WP.1 could do the same.

48. The representative of the European Commission held the view that the process of cooperation between WP29 and WP.1 should be based on the objectives for cooperation, while the technicalities could be implemented via different GRs, depending on the topic.

49. WP. 29 agreed to further discuss this item under agenda item 8.

50. The representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Co-Chair of the IWG on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) reported on the outcome of the fourth session of the IWG on ITS on 17 June 2022. He explained that the group reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the revised UNECE Roadmap on ITS, adopted in February 2021 and discussed ways to materialize the outcomes of these activities by e.g. updating the UNECE ITS publication with support by the IWG. He reported on the involvement of the Group in the organization (together with the International Telecommunication Union) of the annual symposium on the Future Networked Car (FNC) in March 2022 and its session 1 highlighting UNECE and authorities’ activities on ITS. He proposed to WP.29 that the webinars organized by the Group’s leadership and the secretariat would be scheduled for winter 2023 and that the Group’s leadership would represent WP.29 at the 2023 session of the UNECE/ITU symposium.

51. WP.29 approved both proposals from the IWG on ITS as presented by its Co-Chair.

52. The representative of ITU thanked WP.29 for its involvement in the preparation of the 2022 annual FNC symposium and stressed the success of this collaboration thanks to the involvement of the Co-Chair and the Secretary of the Group.

Documentation
GRVA-13-18 Vision of an ADS road map and related future activities at UNECE/GRVA (CLEPA and OICA)
WP.29-187-08 ADS New Assessment/Test Method: Proposal to amend document WP.29/2022/58
WP.29-187-08 ADS New Assessment/Test Method: Proposal to amend document WP.29/2022/58
WP.29-187-10 Working draft Guidelines and Recommendations concerning Safety Requirements for Automated Driving Systems
WP.29-187-24 Automated driving systems regulatory roadmap (CLEPA and OICA)
WP.29/2019/34/Rev.2 Revised Framework document on automated/autonomous vehicles (China, EU, Japan, and USA)
WP.29/2021/151 Automated Vehicles Framework Document: Proposal for updated Table 1
WP.29/2022/57 Proposal for a New Assessment/Test Method for Automated Driving — Master Document
WP.29/2022/57 Proposal for a New Assessment/Test Method for Automated Driving — Master Document
WP.29/2022/58 New Assessment/Test Method for Automated Driving (NATM) Guidelines for Validating Automated Driving System (ADS)
WP.29/2022/60 Proposal for recommendations on uniform provisions concerning cyber security and software updates