Euro NCAP approves Soft Motorcycle 360 for official testing

Euro NCAP has approved the Soft Motorcycle 360 for use in official Euro NCAP testing. The Powered Two-Wheeler (PTW) test target can be used to conduct all of Euro NCAP’s motorcycle-based ADAS test scenarios.

Designed and manufactured by AB Dynamics Group company, Dynamic Research Inc (DRI), the Soft Motorcycle 360 has been approved for use with the AB Dynamics LaunchPad 80 target platform.

"We are delighted to receive Euro NCAP’s approval on the Soft Motorcycle 360,” said Dr Andrew Pick, Track Test Director at AB Dynamics. “Together with the LaunchPad 80, it forms the complete package for the efficient and cost-effective testing of motorcycle ADAS scenarios.”

What is the Soft Motorcycle 360?

The Soft Motorcycle 360 is a next-generation PTW test target featuring a multi-layered construction and innovative rotating wheels that provide a realistic Doppler effect for radar sensors. This ensures the target is accurately recognised by vehicle sensor systems, such as cameras and LiDAR. The modular construction, made of a lightweight, abrasion-resistant rubberised material, allows for quick and easy assembly and reconstruction after impacts, minimising downtime and repair costs.

The Soft Motorcycle 360 is capable of safe and controlled testing at speeds up to 80kph and braking at over 0.6g, which is in excess of the Euro NCAP testing requirements.

It has been specifically developed for new 2023 Euro NCAP motorcycle test scenarios, which include: Car to Motorcycle Rear Stationary (CMRs), Car to Motorcycle Rear braking (CMRb), Car to Motorcycle Front turn across path (CMFtap), Car to Motorcycle oncoming (CMoncoming) and Car to Motorcycle overtaking (CMovertaking). These scenarios have been added to the assessment to better protect riders, who are disproportionately at risk of an accident on the road.

“DRI’s work with the world’s leading safety organisations and OEMs has been instrumental in the development of the Soft Motorcycle 360,” said Pick. “DRI placed a particular focus on reducing damage to the test vehicle and improving the realism of the product, which helps to future-proof it against next-generation sensor systems.”

The Soft Motorcycle 360 and LaunchPad 80 underwent rigorous testing to meet Euro NCAP's high standards, ensuring it is reliable, accurate, and effective for ADAS testing. The products were required to meet specific technical specifications and AB Dynamics provided certification data and back-to-back test data in collaboration with an established Euro NCAP lab.

AB Dynamics provides test equipment used by the world’s leading OEMs, supporting thousands of tests per year for its customers, including Euro NCAP tests, China NCAP, NHTSA NCAP and FMVSS tests. By leveraging the extensive hands-on experience across the group, AB Dynamics offers a complete range of test equipment including DRI’s targets and guided platforms to fulfil all Euro NCAP test requirements.

The Soft Motorcycle 360 has been approved in configuration with the LaunchPad 80, which became a Euro NCAP-approved PTW target platform in 2022. It is capable of safe and controlled testing at speeds up to 80 km/h and braking at over 0.6g, which is in excess of the Euro NCAP testing requirements. With exceptional stability and manoeuvrability, it enables testing of ADAS and autonomous vehicles with motorcyclist and moped targets in various complex scenarios.