MORAI and IPEK at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Launch Research Project to Advance Autonomous Vehicle Simulation Credibility

MORAI has initiated a research project in collaboration with the Institute of Product Engineering (IPEK) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) to develop a credibility assessment framework for the simulation of autonomous vehicles. TÜV SÜD has been appointed to independently verify the outcomes.

• Together, MORAI and IPEK are developing a Credibility Assessment Framework to standardize the trustworthiness of complete simulation toolchains for SAE Level 2 to Level 4+ automated vehicles.

• TÜV SÜD will independently review all project outcomes, confirming compliance with local and global regulations, and strengthening regulatory confidence.

• The aim of the collaboration is to establish a globally applicable evaluation standard for simulation toolchains, thereby enabling the safe and efficient validation of automated driving functions.

  
  

Seoul/Munich, 26th May 2025 – MORAI, a pioneer in digital twin simulation technology for autonomous vehicles, today announced the launch of a joint research initiative with Prof. Tobias Düser from IPEK – Institute of Product Engineering at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). TÜV SÜD has been appointed to independently review the developed results and evaluation methodologies. The project, titled “Credibility Assessment Framework for the MORAI Digital Twin Simulation Platform,” aims to establish a robust, industry-compliant method to assess and demonstrate the credibility of simulation toolchains, particularly for the verification and validation of autonomous vehicles (AVs).

Addressing a Critical Challenge in Autonomous Driving

Simulation is becoming an essential component in the development and validation of AVs, particularly as global regulations increasingly require simulation-based testing for type approval. However, ensuring the credibility and reliability of simulation-based validation remains a major industry challenge.

The research project by MORAI and IPEK aims to bridge this gap by aligning MORAI’s digital twin simulation platform with existing standards, regulations, and guidelines, such as the New Assessment/Test Method (NATM) framework issued by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). TÜV SÜD is validating the developed approach and assessing its compliance as a neutral project partner. The project creates a structured, industry-compliant framework for assessing simulation credibility and offers a scalable, standardized approach to virtual validation.

By addressing the lack of a defined credibility assessment process for AV simulation toolchains, this initiative has the potential to establish new industry benchmarks for virtual test reliability. The structured methodology developed through the project is expected to increase regulatory acceptance of simulation-based verification and validation and accelerate the adoption of simulation as a core pillar of safety assurance in automated vehicle development.

Enhancing Simulation Credibility for Autonomous Vehicle Validation

MORAI offers a comprehensive virtual test environment that complements physical testing, enabling efficient development and validation through advanced simulation and digital twin technologies. The company is committed to advancing innovation in the mobility industry and actively contributes to global standardization bodies to establish simulation as an internationally recognized benchmark for evaluating and verifying the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles.

Jun Hong, CTO and co-founder of MORAI, said: “The use of simulation technology for autonomous vehicle safety validation is no longer just about improving efficiency or reducing costs; it is rapidly becoming a legally mandated regulatory requirement worldwide. Through this collaboration with KIT and the independent assessment by TÜV SÜD, we aim to develop a simulation verification framework that aligns with international standards, contributing to a more structured and systematic approach for ensuring the performance and safety of autonomous vehicles. In addition, we will accelerate our efforts to refine MORAI’s simulation tools to meet global safety verification standards, including ISO 26262, UNECE NATM, and SAE J3016 (Levels 2 to 4+). This will further solidify our position as a trusted leader in the autonomous driving ecosystem."

The academic partner IPEK – Institute of Product Engineering at KIT has established itself as a renowned research organization for XiL-based validation methods, including for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving systems (ADS). Under the leadership of Prof. Tobias Düser, the IPEK project team will help define scientific approaches to simulation credibility and support the integration of these methods into industry standards. The project will employ Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) as a key methodology, leveraging its application in AV system design to structure and analyze virtual test toolchains.

Prof. Tobias Düser, Professor and Director at IPEK, KIT, emphasized the need for consistent industry standards in virtual validation: “Simulation and virtual testing are crucial to bringing autonomous vehicles onto the road. While both have been used in the industry for years, they are rarely applied for approval due to the need for credibility and trustworthiness in validation tools. Our collaboration aims to establish a lean, applicable, and scalable process that regulators and standardization organizations can adopt.”

Project Goals

• Development of a Credibility Assessment Method: A tailored methodology will be created to validate simulation platforms for AV testing and validation in line with current standards, regulations, and guidelines.

• Toolchain Requirements Identification: This project aims to define key requirements for evaluating the credibility, verification, and validation of simulation toolchains, using MORAI’s simulation platform as a reference. 

• Validation by TÜV SÜD: TÜV SÜD has been appointed to assess the methodology and will ensure compliance with UNECE regulations, including UN/ECE R157 (Automated Lane Keeping Systems) and UN/ECE R171 (Driver Control Assistance Systems).

• Outreach and Knowledge Dissemination: The project will include joint publications and academic collaborations to raise awareness and drive innovation in the automated and autonomous mobility space.

• Real-world Application: In the final project phase, a demonstrator for a real-world use case will be developed to validate and refine the methodology using MORAI’s simulation toolchain.

  
  

Advancing Global Standards in Autonomous Vehicle Safety

As an independent service provider with more than 100 years of experience in the automotive sector, TÜV SÜD brings extensive expertise in scenario-based validation and regulatory compliance to the project, ensuring simulation-based safety assessments meet the highest standards. In addition to testing, certification, and auditing services, TÜV SÜD actively contributes to international regulatory discussions. This includes work on the ISO 3450X series for scenario-based testing and initiatives such as VVMethods, IAMTS (International Alliance for Mobility Testing and Standardization), and CETRAN (Centre of Excellence for Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles).

Christoph Miethaner, Lead Engineer Virtual Methods and Project Lead, TÜV SÜD, said: “The safety of road vehicles during their operation phase is of paramount importance to both the automotive industry and regulatory authorities. Besides building a safety justification, the validation phase must also include methods and tools to prove that ADS and ADAS are safe in all possible driving situations. Scenario-based simulation approaches are therefore vital to enable the computation of a controlled diversity of key variables in many iterations in a safe, fast and documented way, supplementing the traditional approach so that no relevant test scenario is missed.”

As the autonomous vehicle sector evolves, simulation credibility will play an increasingly central role in regulatory compliance and safety assurance. Through their joint research project, MORAI and IPEK at KIT, with independent evaluation from TÜV SÜD, aim to set new standards for simulation-based validation and pave the way for more efficient, reliable, and globally recognized testing standards.

About the Project Partners

MORAI (www.morai.ai) is a leading provider of digital twin simulation technologies for next-generation autonomous mobility. The MORAI SIM platform enables customers worldwide to develop autonomous systems virtually, test them in complex scenarios, and validate them to international standards – faster, safer, and more cost-effectively than real-world testing. Its product suite includes powerful validation tools for emerging mobility technologies and ensures the safety and reliability of autonomous systems across diverse applications, including road vehicles, commercial fleets, urban air mobility, mobile robotics, autonomous vessels, and unmanned ground vehicles. Over 120 organizations and research institutions – including Hyundai Motor Group, Samsung Heavy Industries, Naver Labs, and leading universities – use MORAI to reduce real-world testing mileage, minimize risk, and accelerate time to market. Strategic partnerships with AWS, NVIDIA, and Ansys support the platform’s scalability and precision. MORAI has established a strong presence in Asia and is expanding in the EMEA region to support local customers with simulation-based safety validation.

The IPEK – Institute of Product Engineering (www.ipek.kit.edu) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is a leading research institute in the field of scientifically grounded product development. IPEK’s research concept combines the parallel investigation of methods and processes with the synthesis and validation of new technical systems – with a particular focus on drive systems, mobility, and complex cyber-physical systems. The increasing development of automated and connected vehicles presents major challenges for validation and approval. Traditional validation strategies based on real-world driving are reaching their limits due to shorter development cycles, increasing system complexity, and a high number of possible use cases. These challenges are compounded by high costs, safety risks, and emissions associated with physical testing, as well as the low probability of encountering critical scenarios in real-world traffic. The Automated & Connected Mobility (ACM) research group addresses these issues through the development of innovative methods for scenario generation and for selecting and combining appropriate validation environments.

TÜV SÜD (www.tuvsud.com) is one of the world’s leading service providers in testing, inspection, auditing, certification, training, and knowledge services. Since 1866, TÜV SÜD has worked to protect people, the environment, and property from the risks associated with technology. Headquartered in Munich, the company operates globally with a presence in over 1,000 locations and a workforce of nearly 28,000 experts across various disciplines. TÜV SÜD combines independent expertise, long-standing experience, and in-depth industry knowledge to deliver added value for businesses, consumers, and the environment. The company is committed to supporting innovation and technological progress worldwide.