Every technology we use every day goes through a testing phase.
From medical equipment to electronic devices, nothing is released onto the market without thorough performance testing.
The same applies—and even more so—to the automotive sector, where safety is a must.
Car sensors, which today govern driver assistance systems and monitor vital vehicle functions, must demonstrate their functionality under any conditions.
In the following article, we'll explore how automotive sensor validation is carried out and which laboratory instruments are used for this purpose.
What is Automotive Sensor Validation?
Automotive sensor validation is a fundamental phase in the development of every modern vehicle.
Sensors must guarantee precision and reliability under any conditions, from scorching heat to sudden frosts, including constant humidity and vibration cycles. For this reason, validation testing cannot ignore the use of environmental chambers designed to faithfully reproduce real-world environmental conditions.
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What is Automotive Sensor Validation?
Validation is what allows us to determine whether a sensor will actually function on the road.
Consider a parking sensor exposed to rain and mud, or an ADAS radar sensor that must operate even under severe temperature fluctuations. Without targeted testing, these components risk failing precisely at the most critical moments, compromising the vehicle's safety and reliability.
Validation prevents these scenarios, offering guarantees to manufacturers and confidence to end users.
How Automotive Sensor Validation Testing Works
To simulate the real-world conditions to which a sensor will be subjected, an environmental chamber is used.
Within this chamber, temperatures from -70°C to +180°C, humidity up to 98%, rapid thermal shock cycles, light exposure, and mechanical stress can be reproduced. This allows technicians to observe how the sensor reacts to each variable and identify any calibration deviations or performance losses.
Furthermore, modern environmental chambers allow complex cycles to be programmed in an automated and repeatable manner, ensuring reliable data for every phase of the testing process.
Validation Standards and Protocols
Automotive sensor validation follows precise protocols defined by internationally recognized standards. Among the most widely used are:
ISO 26262 – Functional safety of electrical and electronic systems in vehicles.
IEC 60068 – Test methods for environmental conditions.
ISO 16750 – Environmental and test requirements for electrical equipment of road vehicles.
In addition to standards, validation procedures are typically divided into three phases: IQ (Installation Qualification), OQ (Operational Qualification), and PQ (Performance Qualification), which ensure compliance with specifications from installation to final performance.
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The FDM Environmental Chamber for Automotive Sensor Validation
For over 70 years, FDM - Environment Makers has been a leader in environmental testing of products and materials, including the automotive sector.
FDM environmental chambers are the ideal solution for those tackling complex automotive sensor validation processes.
Each machine is designed to ensure testing precision, configuration flexibility, and complete customization of test cycles.
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