Development of a Test Track for Driverless Cars: Vehicle Design, Track Configuration, and Liability Considerations

TLDR

RECAR, founded in 2015 by Budapest University of Technology and Economics, is supported by industry and academia for autonomous vehicle research and education. The paper aims to share practical and methodological insights on autonomous vehicle research, test track design, and liability issues to guide future studies. The authors describe building a new automotive test track in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, and outline key research topics: vehicle research, test track requirements, and legal liability. The RECAR center has initiated intensive research into autonomous vehicle technology.

Abstract

The Research Center for Autonomous Road Vehicles (RECAR) was founded in 2015 upon the initiative of the Faculty of Transportation Engineering and Vehicle Engineering of Budapest University of Technology and Economics. The research center is supported by industrial partners and other academic partners targeting research and educational purposes. In complement to this project, the construction of a new automotive test track is also under development especially for autonomous road vehicle testing serving as automotive proving ground in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. Accordingly, an intensive research has been started in RECAR center in the field of autonomous vehicle technology. The paper’s goal is to share the main practical and methodological experiences with the scientific audience as well as the industrial sector. Based on the initial research actions we intend to enlighten the upcoming research challenges of driverless vehicles and automated intelligent transport system. Basically, three main topics are concerned. Firstly, the main issues concerning autonomous vehicle research are summarized. Secondly, the requirements for autonomous test track design are concluded. Thirdly, the legal questions that emerge with the appearance of driverless vehicles are investigated, especially concerning liability.