Test track for
autonomous driving
in St. Valentin
Fully integrated Test Center and Proving Ground:
Test track (Proving Ground) for autonomous
driving in St. Valentin, Austria
The proving ground in St. Valentin will be expanded into a fully integrated test center for autonomous driving by 2023. It is specially designed for developers and users who want to test driving functions in autonomous vehicles and commercial vehicles. The focus is on testing a wide variety of traffic and logistics scenarios in adverse weather and road conditions
The classic test elements of the already existing proving ground, such as asphalt tracks with different road markings, bad road tracks, twisting tracks, off-road terrain, different gradients and circular tracks will be expanded by 2023 to include further important ODD elements and the necessary digital infrastructure (C-ITS / 5G). In total, around 7 zones for testing autonomous vehicles and transport vehicles in the heart of Europe will be available on the autonomous driving proving ground in St. Valentin by 2023.
Drone flight over the proving ground in St. Valentin
Follow us on a drone flight over the test area for automated driving in St. Valentin, Lower Austria
Info on the launch of the outdoor rain plant at the Digitrans Test Center for Automated Driving
On November 16, 2022, the unique outdoor rain plant in the test center for automated driving on the proving ground in St. Valentin was put into operation.
The outdoor rain plant makes it possible to generate natural rain at the push of a button, thus enabling reproducible rain tests for automated vehicle technologies.
© DigiTrans GmbH
Highlights Proving Ground for Autonomous Driving
Overview test track
Off-road terrain (available)
- 7.2 km off-road gravel road
- Circuit for durability
- Obstacles, twisting paths and steep slopes (40% / 60%)
Inspection area
- Office building
- Test bench
- Inspection hall
- Event location
Driving dynamics track
- 450m x 20m
- a total of up to 6 lanes
- High Performance Road Marking System
Outdoor rain plant
- Natural rain
- Different drop sizes
- Intensities: from 10mm/h to 100mm
- Length: 100m / Width: 6m
Intersection
- 4 junction arms
- C-ITS traffic lights
Roundabout
- Diameter: 28m
- 4 junctions, each 7m wide
- High Performance Road Marking System
City Zone
- 250m network of trails
- Sidewalks and bike paths
- Different banquets
- Floor markings and traffic signs
The Digitrans test center for automated driving and automated freight transport is located on the proving ground in St Valentin on the site of the Magna Powertrain Engineering Center Steyr. The test center, where a wide variety of autonomous driving functions, as well as AD and ADAS tests can be carried out in adverse weather conditions, is being built and operated by Digitrans. Magna Powertrain Engineering Center Steyr provides the existing proving ground and supports DigiTrans GmbH as a shareholder.
Details test track for autonomous driving (Proving Ground)
Tracks Overview
Enhanced Infrastructure
Different marking systems from SWARCO Road Marking Systems – exclusive system partner for road markings
- Area markings
- Structural markings
- Pedestrian crossings
- Edge markings
- Centre lines
- Directional arrows
- Construction site markings
- Temporary markings
Funding for the expansion of the proving ground in St. Valentin
The expansion of the proving ground is largely financed by the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE) and is additionally supported by the ecoplus business agency of the state of Lower Austria. For more information on EFRE, visit www.efre.gv.at
Highlights at the proving ground in St. Valentin
In the future, the test track for autonomous driving in Austria will be able to generate different amounts of precipitation and droplet sizes with an outdoor irrigation system. In a city zone, traffic scenarios from the urban environment and scenarios at an intersection with intelligent traffic light switching can be simulated in real-life tests. To test Hub2Hub scenarios, a hub zone is integrated so that different automated docking maneuvers with trucks and delivery vans can be simulated and tested.
5G / C-ITS test field
5G / C-ITS test field
Different weather conditions
Different weather conditions
- Outdoor Rain Plant
- Control of different droplet sizes
- Intelligent LED lighting system
- Generation of light-shadow changes
Large coverage of real traffic scenarios
Large coverage of real traffic scenarios
- Intersection with C-ITS traffic light control
- City area (City Zone)
- Driving dynamics area / Highway (6 lanes on 20m x 600m)
- Roundabout with different road marking systems
- Parking Zone with different parking options
Hub Zone
Hub Zone
- Testing of automated logistics tasks
- Maneuvering areas and loading and unloading zones
- Adjustable ramps and entrance gates
Test track folder 2020/2021
Selection of test scenarios on the test track (Proving Ground) in St. Valentin
Possible test scenarios:
Large number of different reproducible test scenarios for autonomous vehicles under real traffic conditions. For example, on regulated and unregulated intersections, roundabouts, city traffic zones with different lane markings and traffic signs.
Review and comparison of autonomous vehicle technologies (RADAR, Camera, LiDAR, LDA) under difficult road and weather conditions (ADAS tests). For example, in the case of precipitation, wet roads, poor visibility or road damage and poorly visible road markings.
ADAS test scenarios for the evaluation of the security category by Euro NCAP. Among other things, Automatic Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Keeping Assistant (LKA) can be tested to assess the safety of occupants and pedestrians.
- Edge case analyses of autonomous vehicles
- Provision of data for simulations of different traffic scenarios with autonomous vehicles
- Outside noise measurements according to ISO 362-1 / ISO 10844:2014
- EU Regulation 540-2014 (2007/46 / EG)
- Power supply 220V / 50Hz
Testing the fatigue strength of vehicles and vehicle components on asphalt roads, poor roads and off-road routes with syntactic obstacles as well as testing the durability of construction vehicles, trucks and heavy-duty vehicles.
Stress tests of a wide variety of vehicle types in the off-road area. For example on rough roads with a wide variety of obstacles, gravel roads and muddy roads. In addition, a wading basin up to 1.8 m deep is available for testing the internal and external vehicle sealing.
Different torsion paths as well as torsion and parallel obstacles at different heights for functional testing of the suspension, frame, chassis, driver’s cab and driver’s seat.
Additional test track services
72h special cancellation
If you have to cancel due to Corona restrictions, you can cancel without any problems and free of charge up to 72 hours in advance.
Truck rental
Test sensors and software with real commercial vehicles. Different truck sizes are available for this purpose.
Planning and consulting
We analyze and evaluate your test scenario individually and work with you to plan all the important steps leading to the perfect test result.
Individual test design
We develop customized test concepts and select the right partners, technologies, vehicles and traffic scenarios based on your requirements.
Test implementation / test driver
You can have test drivers carry out parts or entire test scenarios. We take care of planning, organization and implementation.
On-site support
We are happy to support you with test engineers and accident analysis experts directly on site on our test track for autonomous driving in St. Valentin.
We advise you!
Contact us
How to find us
Digitrans Office
DigiTrans GmbH
Hamerlingstraße 42
4020 Linz
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Test track (proving ground) St. Valentin
Opposite Weindlau 41
4432 Ernsthofen
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