Consortium

Consortium

P.E.A.R.S. is an open consortium, consisting of 35 members, in which engineers and researchers from the automotive industry, research institutes and academia join with the objective to develop a comprehensible, reliable, transparent, and accepted methodology for quantitative assessment of crash avoidance technology by virtual simulation.

P.E.A.R.S. members

SWOV

SWOV is the national scientific institute for road safety research. It is our mission to use our knowledge from scientific research to contribute to safer road traffic. SWOV helps answer questions policymakers and other road traffic professionals are confronted with. SWOV is a non-profit organization. Most of the SWOV-research is made possible by public funds.

TNO

TNO is a contract research organization based in The Netherlands. With a staff of over 3400, TNO is carrying out research in order to strengthen the industry and to boost the well-being of society in a sustainable way. We work in collaboration with partners and focus on nine domains. TNO functions as an independent intermediary between fundamental research organizations and industry. By translating scientific knowledge into practical applications, TNO contributes to the innovation capacity of businesses and government.

FTG | TU Graz

The Institute of Automotive Engineering at Graz University of Technology targets at innovative and internationally recognized research and education in the complex networked system of vehicle, drive-train, safety and environment. To solve these interdisciplinary problems, important contributions in the fields of mechanics, electronics, humans and mobility are made. We carry out basic and industry-related research, as well as education including the latest technologies as well as our own research.

Chalmers University of Technology

Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students. The research in the division of Vehicle Safety at the department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences has the primary goal of reducing or mitigating the risk of injury for all road users. The division has a strong focus on modelling road-users, both in terms of human-body-models (HBMs) and the modeling the behavior of different road-users (e.g., car drivers and vulnerable road users). The models are integrated and used in both in-crash and pre-crash virtual safety assessment methods.

Technische Universität Dresden

The chair of automobile engineering (LKT) of TU Dresden is conducting research in four different research areas. Hereby, the group “vehicle and traffic safety” focuses on the methodology development for assessing automated driving systems (ADS). The featured “scenario-based” testing approach includes e.g. research on the design of evaluation scenarios and the modelling of driver behaviour models to evaluate ADS-effectiveness.

Unversity of Leeds

The Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds is one of the UK's leading departments for transport research. It is home to Virtuocity, a unique centre for simulation and design, with world-leading facilities and researchers both within immersive human-in-the-loop driving and pedestrian simulation, as well as in modelling of human behaviour and virtual testing of vehicle systems.

Fraunhofer IVI

The Fraunhofer IVI employs more than 120 scientists and cooperates closely with the TU Dresden, the TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the TH Ingolstadt. In addition to vehicle technology applications, topics like intelligent traffic systems and civil security are the focus of traffic-related research. A separate research group is dedicated to vehicle and road safety, tackling accident analysis, simulation and variation of accident data as well as recording normal driving scenarios.

AZT Automotive GmbH

As a research institute belonging to the Allianz Group, AZT Automotive GmbH examines current issues in the areas of automobile technology, repair technology as well as vehicle and road-safety. The activities of AZT Automotive GmbH cover, among others, crash testing focusing on damage behavior and vehicle insurance rating, repair methods for modern vehicles, vehicle electronics, telematics, and accident research focusing on driver assistance systems and automated driving.

Generali

Generali Jeniot has been founded to Develop and commercialize innovative products and services in the IoT and Data Analytics field for the Captive market to support Generali Group’s companies and the Open Market (B2C, B2B and B2B2C) also fostering innovation through research and experimentation of new technologies to help families and businesses in everyday life: from the connected car, to the smart home, to personal and four-legged friends' well-being.

TÜV SÜD

TÜV SÜD passionate about people, environment, and technological progress. TÜV SÜD anticipates technological developments and facilitate change defining standards and going beyond regulatory compliance. Staying true to founding principle, TÜV SÜD add value by creating a safer and more sustainable future. TÜV SÜD aims towards being the trusted partner of choice for safety, security and sustainability solutions that add tangible value to clients in a physical and digital world.

VIRTUAL VEHICLE Research Centre

The VIRTUAL VEHICLE Research Centre in Graz/Austria is an independent, international research centre which deals with application-oriented vehicle development and future vehicle concepts for road and rail. The group “Vehicle and Road Safety” has many years of experience in developing passive and active safety simulation methods for, amongst others, ATDs, HBMs, VRUs, restraint systems, full vehicle structures and component testing, test bench development and integrated simulation and effectiveness assessment.

THI

TH Ingolstadt is a technical university of applied sciences with a strong research base. With CARISSMA, the leading scientific center for vehicle safety in Germany, it has state-of-the-art facilities for researching promising safety technologies. The CARISSMA Institute for Automated Driving focuses its research on the development, testing and validation of automated driving functions. The institute is intensively involved in virtual and real driving tests.

Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA

Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota, GR (Gazoo Racing) and Lexus vehicles and parts and accessories, as well as Toyota’s European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly employs over 25,000 people and has invested over EUR 11 billion in Europe since 1990. Its eight European manufacturing plants are located in Portugal, the UK, France, Poland, Czech Republic and Turkey. Today, there are approximately 16.5 million Toyota, GR and Lexus vehicles on European roads, whose drivers are supported by a network of 28 National Marketing and Sales Companies and around 2,800 retail sales outlets in 53 countries (EU, UK, EFTA countries + Russia, Israel, Turkey and other Eastern European countries). In 2021, TME sold 1,076,300 vehicles in Europe for a 6.4% market share.

Volkswagen Group

The Volkswagen Group comprises ten brands from five European countries: Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, ŠKODA, SEAT, CUPRA, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Porsche and Ducati. On our way to becoming a sustainable mobility provider with a role model function in the areas of environment, safety and integrity, Volkswagen Group Innovation rely on a cross-brand and efficient research network. This network connects experts, enables partnership-based cooperation at eye level, creates an innovative working environment and bundles activities in order to increase synergies and efficiencies across the Volkswagen group.

LAB PSA / RENAULT

Created in 1969 by French carmakers Renault and Peugeot, LAB contributes to road safety by helping improve vehicular capabilities and design. LAB brings together a wide array of specialties: human behavior analysis, psychology, on-field accident investigation, accident reconstruction and simulation, injury biomechanics and data science. Instrumental in the 80% decrease in France’s road fatalities within the last 50 years, LAB regularly publishes its research results and participates to European projects.

BMW Group

BMW Group is a global manufacturer of premium class automobiles and motorcycles, covering the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. In Munich, BMW develops future cars and conducts research and predevelopment on various fields of vehicle design. BMW is working the field of effectiveness assessment since years and has joined and supported P.E.A.R.S. from its beginning. Furthermore, is one of the co-initiators for the openPASS simulation tool.

Volvo Cars

Volvo Cars was founded in 1927. Today, it is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales to customers in more than 100 countries. Volvo Cars aims to provide customers with the Freedom to Move in a personal, sustainable and safe way. As of December 2021, Volvo Cars employed approximately 41,000 full-time employees. Volvo Cars' head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Foretellix

Foretellix provides a revolutionary product development testing, verification, and validation platform enabling the mass deployment of autonomous driving systems. Foretellix uses proven approaches from the semiconductor chip industry that utilize hyper-automation, big data analytics, and AI. The platform orchestrates and manages the massive scale of testing required to ensure safety, reduce development costs, and shorten the time-to-market of ADS deployment.

ZF Group

ZF is a global technology company and supplies systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology, enabling the next generation of mobility. With its comprehensive technology portfolio, the company offers integrated solutions for established vehicle manufacturers, mobility providers and start-up companies in the fields of transportation and mobility. ZF continually enhances its systems in the areas of digital connectivity and automation in order to allow vehicles to see, think and act.

TU Berlin

Department of Industrial Information Technology at the Technical University of Berlin.
- Embedded in the Faculty of Transport and Machine Systems as well as in the Institute for Machine Tools and factory operation
- Deals with the further development of digital solutions to improve and expand the engineering activities in the entire process of virtual product development from the product idea and planning product development through to planning and start-up safeguarding of production.

Institute for Automotive Engineering (ika)

As part of RWTH Aachen University, the Institute for Automotive Engineering (ika) researches the complete vehicle including its systems and their interactions. From the initial idea to innovative component and system concepts to vehicle prototypes, the Institute's staff actively design solutions for tomorrow's mobility. We work in public and bilateral projects with and for manufacturers and suppliers to ensure that future mobility will continue to be safe, efficient and attractive.

UTAC

As UTAC, we are a market-leading group in vehicle testing, type approval and emerging technologies for autonomous, connected and electric vehicles. We provide services and systems to customers in the automotive, transport, tyre, petrochemical and defence industries. We deliver regulation and homologation support, specialist vehicle conversions and test systems as well as training, consulting, audit and certification, technical inspection, standardisation and events.

Continental AG

Continental AG develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2021, Continental generated sales of €33.8 billion and currently employs more than 190,000 people in 58 countries and markets. On October 8, 2021, the company celebrated its 150th anniversary.

VAIVA

We make autonomous driving safe and reduce the damage from serious accidents to nearly zero. Whether it involves semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicles, from the initial idea and predevelopment to series production, we make sure that the future really arrives on the street. Our technology: 360° integral vehicle safety.

CARIAD

CARIAD is an automotive software company in the Volkswagen Group that is consolidating and further expanding the Group's software competencies to transform automotive mobility. The company is developing the leading tech stack for the automotive industry with the mission to make the automotive experience safer, more sustainable and more comfortable in a new way – for everyone, everywhere. Established in 2020 under the name Car.Software Organisation, around 4,500 engineers and developers around the world are now working at CARIAD to build a uniform software platform for all brands of Volkswagen Group, which includes a unified and scalable architecture, an operating system and automotive cloud. The new software platform will first be deployed at the end of 2025. In addition, CARIAD is working on outstanding digital automotive features, including ADAS systems, a standardized infotainment platform, software functions for linking powertrains, and chassis and charging technology, as well as new ecosystems and digital business models in and around the vehicle. CARIAD operates in software competence centers in Wolfsburg, Ingolstadt, the area of Stuttgart, Berlin and Munich, and is closely co-operating with international development teams in the Volkswagen Group in the US and China.

VUFO

VUFO is a combined R&D service provider, research institution and one ofthe world’s leading players in the field of accident research andaccidentology. VUFO is running a GIDAS (German In-Depth Accident Study)investigation team since 1999. Since then, more than 20,000 accidents withpersonal damage have been investigated on the accident scene, coded andreconstructed. Over the years, VUFO became a well-known research institute in the field ofroad and vehicle safety. The company’s researchers worked on more than 400national and international projects for the automotive industry,authorities, ministries, associations, consumer protection agencies, andothers.

FKA

As a partner in the automotive industry, fka GmbH offers innovative solutions and engineering services. Understanding the vehicle as a complete physical, energetical and informational system, fka develops solutions relating to the key themes of energy efficiency, safety and driving pleasure - driving innovations. Corresponding to its main areas of work, fka comprises ten departments: body, vehicle concepts, chassis, drivetrain, acoustics, electric/electronics, automated driving, thermal management, user experience as well as strategy & consulting. This wide range of competencies enables analysing and optimising the vehicle as a whole paying attention to the complex interactions between its individual subsystems. Powerful computer resources, latest commercial simulation software, various workshops and numerous testing facilities support fka’s activities. The spectrum of services offered by fka GmbH in cooperation with RWTH Aachen University's Institute for Automotive Engineering (ika) covers the concept development, simulation and design of vehicles, systems and components, right through to prototype construction and testing. fka carries out specialised and interdisciplinary development tasks, supplemented by technical and strategic consulting.

Denso

DENSO is a €40.5 billion global mobility supplier that develops advanced technologies and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in its 198 facilities to develop thermal, powertrain, mobility, electrification and electronic systems and solutions that are changing the way the world moves. The company’s 167,000+ employees are paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO spent 9% of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022.

VSI

The Vehicle Safety Institute at TU Graz emphases on research in the field of transport safety divided into two groups: “Accident and Injury Analysis and Prevention” and “Crash Behavior of Energy Storage Systems and Materials”. VSI focuses on the method development and application.

W2Economics

W2Economics is a leading expert in the economic analysis of road safety. With its high-quality economic research, consultancy and education, W2Economics helps to prevent road crashes, improve the quality of life, and reduce costs.

University of Florence

The UNIFI research team, coordinated by prof. Francesca La Torre has more than 20 years of experience in road safety. Research projects and more than 100 papers demonstrate the background of the team concerning road safety assessment. Thanks to the experience gained both in the Finite Element Analysis and in Virtual Reality Simulation the UNIFI team will contribute to the V4Safety project with the aim of defining the requirement needed to model both the infrastructures and safety solutions according to the general objective of the V4Safety to conduct effectiveness assessment and projection regarding safety performance in future traffic scenarios.

Applus+ IDIADA

Applus+ IDIADA is a global partner to the automotive industry with over 30 years’ experience supporting its clients in product development activities by providing design, engineering, testing and homologation services. IDIADA’s success in product development is built on a unique blend of highly experienced engineers, state-of-the-art test and development facilities and the constant drive towards innovation. The company has over 3,200 professionals and an international network of subsidiaries and branch offices in 22 countries, ensuring its clients receive customized added-value solutions.

Ertico

ERTICO - ITS Europe is a public-private partnership with close to 120 members that connects 8 different sectors in ITS, from service providers, suppliers and research organisations, to public authorities, user organisations and vehicle manufacturers. Together, we develop and promote Intelligent Mobility solutions through European co-funded projects, innovation platforms, advocacy and events such as the annual ITS Congresses. As a thought leader, ERTICO engages with various stakeholders worldwide and plays a central role in public consultations and policymaking. Our activities focus on four areas of smart mobility: Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility, Clean & Eco-Mobility, Urban Mobility and Transport & Logistics.