In-Vehicle Navigation System Model Deployment Initiative Acceptance Test Plan

NHTSA · 1998 · ROSA P / TransGuide

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Summary

This document presents the Acceptance Test Plan (ATP) for the In-Vehicle Navigation (IVN) system developed under the Texas Department of Transportation’s Model Deployment Initiative (MDI). The research addresses the limitation of existing commercial navigation units, which rely on static databases of typical transit times and cannot account for real-time congestion caused by accidents, rush hours, or public events. The MDI implementation aims to overcome this by integrating real-time traffic data into the navigation process, thereby providing travelers in the San Antonio metropolitan area with dynamic route guidance. The primary objective is to validate that the IVN system meets specified requirements and operates effectively in its intended environment. The IVN system architecture comprises four major components: an IVN master computer, a Subcarrier Traffic Information Channel (STIC) message encoder, a STIC receiver, and the in-vehicle navigation unit. The master computer retrieves real-time traffic data from the MDI Data Server and formats it into efficient messages, which are transmitted via dial-up modem to the STIC encoder. The encoder, located at a commercial FM radio station, modulates the data as a sub-carrier signal broadcast alongside the FM radio signal. Vehicles equipped with STIC receivers decode this signal and pass the data to the navigation unit, which calculates the quickest route using the real-time information. The ATP, prepared by the Southwest Research Institute, outlines test methods including inspection, demonstration, testing with instrumentation, and analysis. It employs plausible use testing and boundary value analysis to ensure robustness. The testing framework is organized into subsystem-specific test cases identified by unique mnemonics: IVN-MC (Master Computer), IVN-NU (Navigation Unit), IVN-SYS (System Components), and IVN-INSTALL (Installation). The plan details specific procedures for each test, including prerequisite conditions, test inputs, and evaluation criteria. For instance, IVN-MC tests utilize a test version of the Realtime Receive process that accepts input from text files rather than the live Data Server, allowing for controlled verification of hardware and software requirements. Problems detected during testing are classified by category (software, hardware, documentation, or design) and priority, with Priority 1 issues preventing essential capabilities. Re-testing protocols are defined to ensure that corrections to identified problems are validated without compromising previously successful tests. The significance of this document lies in its role as the formal verification mechanism for the deployment of 590 IVN units in San Antonio. By establishing rigorous acceptance criteria and traceability to design requirements, the ATP ensures that the system reliably delivers real-time traveler information. This initiative represents a shift from static to dynamic navigation, enhancing the utility of traveler information services by accounting for live traffic conditions. The successful execution of these tests validates the integration of traffic management center data with in-vehicle systems, supporting the broader goals of the TransGuide system to improve traffic flow and driver decision-making.

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