UN R138 — Supplement 2 to the 02 series of amendments

New paragraph 2.13. defines an “Automated Driving System (ADS)”. It is the vehicle hardware and software that are collectively capable of performing the entire Dynamic Driving Task (DDT) on a sustained basis. New paragraph 2.14. defines the DDT as the real-time operational and tactical functions required to operate the vehicle. The “pause function” in paragraph 2.8. is now a mechanism to enable “the driver or ADS (as defined in paragraph 2.13.)” to halt the operation of an AVAS. Before this supplement, the definition said “to enable the driver to halt the operation of an AVAS”. Former paragraph 2.13. on symbols and abbreviated terms is renumbered 2.17.

The “mass in running order” now includes the mass of the driver (75 kg) except in the case of vehicles of category X or category Y. Before this supplement, the definition said “including the mass of the driver (75 kg)” and gave no exception.

Paragraph 6.2.5. is now titled “Available AVAS sounds” instead of “Driver selectable AVAS sounds”. The vehicle manufacturer may define “different available sounds”. Before this supplement, the text said “alternative sounds which can be selected by the driver”. Each of these sounds must be in compliance and approved with the provisions in paragraphs 6.2.1. to 6.2.4., as before. In the addendum to the communication form in Annex 1, item 1.2.2. now asks for the “No. of available AVAS sounds” instead of the “No. of driver selectable sounds”.

New paragraph 2.15. defines a “bi-directional vehicle” as a vehicle that can operate in two opposite forward directions. New paragraph 2.16. defines “forward direction” (of a vehicle) as a direction that is intended to be used as main travelling direction of the vehicle. Annex 3, paragraph 3.3.1. adds that, in the case of bi-directional vehicles, the measurements must be conducted separately for each front plane of the vehicle. For these vehicles, the requirements for forward driving apply to both forward directions. If no reverse mode is available, the requirements of table 2b for reverse driving do not apply. If one or more reverse modes are available, those requirements apply to each of them and additional tests for reverse driving must be conducted accordingly.

New Annex 5 gives special provisions for the testing of vehicles equipped with an ADS. The Annex explains how to adapt UN-R138 to these vehicles, and says that it does not add nor remove any requirement. When performing the tests of this regulation, the conditions prescribed in the Annexes must be fulfilled. Additional preparation of the test track, the vehicle or other equipment may be needed for vehicles equipped with an ADS. This additional preparation must be approved by the Type Approval Authority and its designated Technical Service and described in the test report.

Paragraph 2.2. of Annex 5 covers vehicles equipped with an ADS, other than category X and category Y. For these vehicles, it is sufficient to test either in the manual operation or in ADS operation when the two following conditions are fulfilled. Under condition (a), the manufacturer declares that “the vehicle is designed in such a way that there should be no difference in performance regardless of manual operation or ADS operation of the vehicle with regard to this Regulation”. Under condition (b), the Type Approval Authority and its designated Technical Service agree to this single mode testing.

For vehicles of categories X and Y, when performing Methods (A) or (C), either the vehicle or the track or both must be prepared. This preparation must enable the test vehicle to fulfil the test conditions prescribed in Annex 3. As examples, the track might be prepared with additional lines, traffic signs and other measures. The vehicle might have a test mode, or be controlled by an operator in the vehicle or remote to drive the vehicle on the track. For these vehicles, when performing Methods (B) or (D), the simulated speed signal must be used as described in Annex 3.