KATECH Named Korea’s Accredited Testing Body for Low-Speed Autonomous Driving

Low-speed autonomous driving test with a cyclist. [Photo=KATECH]

Korea Automobile Technology Institute said Sunday it has built a nationally accredited testing system to verify the safety and performance of low-speed autonomous driving systems in South Korea.

KATECH’s Cooperative Driving Automation Research Center said it received approval from the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme to expand its scope of accreditation based on the KS X ISO 22737 international standard.

ISO 22737 sets out performance evaluation standards for low-speed autonomous driving (LSAD) vehicles operating on designated routes such as urban parks, university campuses and industrial complexes. It specifies minimum requirements for autonomous systems traveling at 32 kph (20 mph) or less, including collision avoidance, route compliance and emergency stopping functions.

KATECH said it has established a real-road testing framework that reflects scenarios likely to occur in actual traffic, moving beyond evaluations centered on in-lab simulations.

It said the tests incorporate a range of scenarios, including situations involving vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. By verifying the full process of perception, decision-making and control under conditions equivalent to real driving, KATECH said it has improved the reliability of evaluations.

KATECH said its designation as a nationally accredited testing body is significant because domestic autonomous driving companies have struggled with a lack of accredited testing systems, making it difficult to objectively demonstrate their technology in global markets.

KOLAS-accredited test reports issued by KATECH are recognized with the same effect in more than 100 member countries under the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation’s mutual recognition arrangement, it said. KATECH said it plans to begin providing nationally accredited testing services in earnest from the second quarter of this year, targeting leading autonomous driving companies in South Korea and abroad.

KATECH said, “This achievement is meaningful in that it links private-sector autonomous driving capabilities with nationally accredited, reliable data, laying the groundwork for a standardized evaluation ecosystem,” adding, “We will actively support domestic autonomous driving companies so they can respond proactively to international technical regulations and enter global markets.”

* This article has been translated by AI.

Oh Jooseok