The Proving Ground Conference

Automotive Proving Grounds are facing new challenges e.g., with an increasing number of autonomous vehicles under test, or vehicles which are tested automatically. As safety remains top priority for everyone involved in testing, changes result in many fields such as test protocols, design, operations, and connectivity.

The Proving Ground Conference aims to serve the community as a venue for exchange and discussions. We invite everyone interested to meet (again) in person, share knowledge and experience, and connect with experts alike.

Impressions 2022

Day 1 - Demonstration Day

Day 2 - Conference Day

Save the Date

We would like to build on the success of the first Proving Ground Conference and are happy to share the date for the 2023 conference. Mark 19 + 20 September 2023 in your calendar.

Save the Date!

Program 2022

On 13 September 2022, a field trip to Aldenhoven Testing Center offers the chance to see the proving ground live and witness demonstrations regarding testing tools, proving ground management and connectivity. The day will be closed with a joint dinner to intensify discussions and relations.

The actual conference will take place on 14 September 2022 at CT² - Center for Teaching & Training, one of the university top conference centers. Presentations and exhibitions will target these main streams

Safety on proving grounds
Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles
Connectivity
Proving ground design and operations

Demonstration Day

13

Sep 2022

Time	Title
14:00	Transfer from Aachen
14:30	Snacks & drinks served
15:00	Welcome and intro to Aldenhoven Testing Center
15:15	Start of demonstrations • Vodafone 5G Mobility Lab • mm-lab Proving Ground Management System
17:00	End of demonstrations
17:15	Transfer to Aachen
19:00	Joint dinner in Aachen

Conference Day

14

Sep 2022

Time	Title	Presenter
09:00	Exhibition Open, Coffee Served
09:30	Welcome	Rainer Staron, mm-lab Micha Lesemann, Aldenhoven Testing Center
09:40	Impulse	Prof. Peter Urban, Institute for Automotive Engineering, RWTH Aachen University
Session 1: Safety on Proving Grounds
10:00	SAE J3300 Driving Skills Standards	Jörg Hogefeld, SAE
10:20	Safety Driver Qualification	Dennis Eckl, Driving Concept
10:40	Improving Safety for Motorcycles on Proving Grounds	Steffen Firchau, mm-lab
11:00	Panel Session 1
11:15	Coffee break
Session 2: Testing of Automated and Autonomous Vehicles
11:45	Testing Automated Driving - What we learned in UNICARagil	Raphael van Kempen, Institute for Automotive Engineering (ika)
12:05	Increasing the Test Portfolio for Proving Grounds	Nils Katzorke, Mercedes-Benz
12:25	Proving Ground as Part of Virtual Homologation	Rico Barth, TÜV Rheinland
12:45	Panel Session 2
13:00	Lunch break & coffee
Session 3: Testing Tools and Environments
14:15	Efficient Tool Chain for Proving Ground and its Ideal Targets	Bahaa Salhab, 4activeSystems
14:35	High-end Digital Twins of Proving Grounds	Gunnar Gräfe, 3D Mapping Solutions
14:55	Cold Climate Vehicle Indoor Testing	Jörg Hogefeld
15:15	Panel Session 3
15:30	Final Discussion (Podium)
16:00	End of conference

The presentations of the 2022 conference are now available to participants.

Location

RWTH Aachen University is one of Europe’s top technical universities, located right at the border to The Netherlands and Belgium. Aldenhoven Testing Center, an R&D-focused proving ground is operated by the university in close vicinity.