Issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China, this standard is set to become a mandatory benchmark for any automaker selling ADAS-equipped vehicles in the massive Chinese market.
A Three-Pillar Validation Framework
The standard establishes a comprehensive, structured framework for validation that moves beyond simple lane-keeping tests. It requires a rigorous "three-part gauntlet" for system certification:
- Document Review: Regulators will scrutinize system designs, safety concepts, and the credibility of simulation environments.
- Field Testing: Precise, controlled tests conducted on a closed track following specific procedures.
- Public Road Testing: Assessing how the system performs in the unpredictable nature of real-world public road conditions.
Functional Safety vs. SOTIF
The core mission of the mandate creates a dual requirement for safety, ensuring systems are robust against both internal malfunctions and external complexities.
1. Functional Safety
This focuses on how the system responds when its own hardware or software components malfunction. Under table C.3, automakers must perform direct fault injection tests. For example, simulating a sensor power loss at 60 km/h to ensure the vehicle handles the failure gracefully without unintended swerving.
2. SOTIF (Safety of the Intended Functionality)
SOTIF deals with scenarios where the system is functionally perfect but faces complex real-world "edge cases". The standard mandates testing for:
- Vehicle Cut-ins: Safely responding to another car cutting in with a dangerously short time-to-collision (1.5 to 3 seconds).
- Construction Zones: Navigating temporary lane constrictions or obstacles where lane lines might be confusing.
- Environmental Complexity: Handling adverse weather, night driving, and encounters with vulnerable road users like cyclists.
"It is not enough for your system to be robust against its own internal failures; you must also prove it can handle the messy, chaotic, and unpredictable nature of the real world."
Ultimately, this standard moves the goalposts for ADAS development teams, requiring a deep, evidence-based approach to safety that covers both technical integrity and real-world performance.