Complex Test Scenarios for Functional Validation Prior to Type Approval

The continuous tightening of European regulatory requirements, particularly under the General Safety Regulation (GSR), has considerably increased the scope and cost of proving ground testing required for the validation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADASs) and Automated Driving Systems (ADSs). This study presents a methodology for constructing complex proving ground test scenarios aimed at supporting early-stage functional validation and cost-efficient preparation for type approval. The method is based on the systematic analysis of proving ground–relevant ADAS regulations and the classification of test case variations according to sensing, actuation, and execution complexity. By filtering and combining representative test cases, minimum and maximum complexity scenarios were developed and evaluated on the ZalaZONE proving ground in Hungary. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach can substantially reduce test duration, facility occupancy, and overall validation costs, while maintaining the representativeness and credibility of results. Beyond cost savings, the methodology offers a scalable and practical framework for physical validation, supporting manufacturers in achieving regulatory compliance with reduced time and expenditure.