Volume 05.3_12/2024_EN

In the automotive industry, optical measurement and inspection systems are commonly used in production for quality assurance purposes as well as in sensor systems within vehicles. Thanks to advances in sensor technology as well as software-based image processing, such systems can be found more and more frequently. Despite this, developers and users of such systems still require standards and clarification regarding efficient proofs of capability as well as series release.

Light carries a vast amount of information (direction, intensity, spectrum/color, polarisation, etc). Therefore, optical systems make it possible to carry out a variety of measurement and inspection tasks. However, using light appropriately and deriving the relevant information reliably requires effort. Optical measurement and inspection processes consequently feature special characteristics which differentiate them from the one-dimensional approach proposed in VDA Volume 5. The present VDA Volume 5.3 aims to close this gap by providing practical recommendations.

VDA Volume 5.3 focuses on the following key aspects:

• To the extent possible, the methodology for obtaining proofs of measurement and inspection process capability for production and the vehicle is based on VDA Volume 5.
• In VDA Volume 5.3, attributive inspection is discussed in greater detail.
• VDA Volume 5.3 also covers the proof of capability of measurement and inspection processes whose software includes components that have been generated by means of machine learning.
• VDA Volume 5.3 addresses optical systems that are used as unique products or in small number in laboratories, development and production (quality assurance) but also those that are produced in large series and installed in street vehicles.
• These include e.g. front cameras for detecting vehicles ahead in order to activate emergency braking assistant functions, or cameras inside the vehicle for monitoring the driver’s level of alertness.