The Role of Scenario Creation in ADS Simulation
In the virtual validation of automated driving systems (ADS), the generation of plausible and context-specific traffic scenarios is central to achieving test relevance, completeness, and repeatability. Without realistic and well-structured scenarios, test results may lack credibility, leaving critical functional gaps undetected.
Scenario creation is more than placing actors on a map—it defines the behavioral, environmental, and situational context in which the system under test (SuT) is evaluated. Scenarios serve as the link between operational requirements and simulation-based performance assessment.
Structuring Scenarios with MyScenarios
To support this critical step in the testing workflow, ReplicaR includes MyScenarios, a dedicated tool for the manual creation and configuration of traffic scenarios. Users can select curated maps via MyMaps, manually place vehicles and pedestrians, and define behaviors using intuitive graphical interfaces or imported JSON logic.
Each scenario is aligned with a previously defined Operational Design Domain (ODD), ensuring test case relevance and consistency across the entire ReplicaR toolchain. Engineers can configure environmental conditions such as traffic density, road types, weather, and lighting, with granular control over how and when each parameter applies.
To enhance scenario realism and minimize false test inputs, MyScenarios integrates morphological analysis—a feature developed by AAI that filters out technically implausible or contradictory configurations. This ensures that every scenario represents a feasible and relevant traffic situation.
Standards Alignment and Observability
Scenarios created with MyScenarios are stored in standardized formats including ASAM OSI, rosbag, and OpenSCENARIO XML, supporting interoperability with other toolchains and simulation environments.
MyScenarios also provides the ability to define key observers and KPIs—tagging incidents, monitoring safety-critical behaviors, and ensuring traceability across simulation runs. This observability enables in-depth performance analysis and supports continuous ADS system improvement.
Scenario Validity and Data Traceability
Each manually configured scenario is linked back to ODD constraints and validated via plausibility radius and scenario metrics. This ensures that test cases not only adhere to technical specifications but also reflect real-world traffic behavior and risk profiles.
Scenario datasets can be archived and reused across simulation campaigns, enabling regression testing and performance benchmarking over time.
Conclusion
MyScenarios provides a powerful and structured way to manually author traffic scenarios for ADS testing. By combining curated map access, behavior parameterization, plausibility checks, and observability features, it ensures each test is both technically valid and operationally relevant.
To explore how custom scenario creation can enhance your ADS validation process, reach out to our team for a technical walkthrough or product demonstration.