By ATN
Summary: AB Dynamics has expanded its Special Groups library to support automation of more than 1,200 Euro NCAP test scenarios introduced under the 2026 protocols. Delivered via the latest Track Applications Suite, the update enables automated creation, calculation and validation of complex ADAS tests, saving test teams months of development time while supporting new robustness testing requirements and high-risk head-on scenarios.
Engineering takeaway: Automated, configurable scenario libraries can handle both prescribed NCAP tests and variable robustness testing without manual redefinition. Accurate automation is especially critical for high-speed head-on scenarios with closing speeds up to 200 km/h, where tight tolerances determine test validity. Integration with robots, targets and telemetry enables a fully connected, end-to-end ADAS test workflow.
Why it matters: Euro NCAP 2026 significantly increases testing volume and complexity, pushing traditional manual methods beyond practical limits. Automation reduces time, risk and cost while improving repeatability and safety in extreme test conditions. This approach helps manufacturers meet regulatory demands while extending validation closer to real-world driving behaviour.
AB Dynamics is enabling the automation of more than 1,200 Euro NCAP tests included in the new 2026 protocols through its updated Special Groups library. The automated creation, calculation and validation of these tests will save months of development time for test teams.
Available as an optional upgrade through the latest version of the company’s Track Applications Suite, the update represents the largest expansion of Euro NCAP scenarios in the library to date and introduces greater flexibility to support manufacturers with increasing testing demands.
Special Groups is AB Dynamics’ comprehensive library of preconfigured test scenarios that enables the automation of the testing and validation of industry-standard active safety and driver assistance protocols.
“The upcoming Euro NCAP 2026 protocols pose a significant challenge to test teams,” said Liam D’Souza, Senior Verification & Validation Engineer at AB Dynamics. “There are now more than 1,200 different test scenarios to contend with, not to mention the other regional NCAP and type approval protocols that test teams must also navigate. Designing, calculating and running these tests manually is incredibly labour-intensive. We have done all the hard work for our customers and are saving teams months in time.”
A key development in the new Euro NCAP 2026 protocols is the introduction of robustness testing. Unlike traditional highly prescribed tests, robustness testing defines a base scenario but allows the test house to introduce variations, such as speed or offset, to replicate the unpredictability of real-world driving. AB Dynamics’ Special Groups are fully configurable, enabling customers to extend testing beyond the prescribed Euro NCAP requirements and conduct their own robustness assessments.
New to the Special Groups are the challenging head-on collision scenarios, such as the Car-to-Car Front Head-On Straight (CCFhos) and Car-to-Car Front Head-On Lane Change (CCFhol). The highest-speed tests of these scenarios have a closing speed of 200 km/h, so it is vital that they are conducted accurately and within tolerance to ensure the test data is valid.
“The head-on scenarios represent some of the riskiest tests manufacturers face,” continues D’Souza. “Euro NCAP considers a 20 km/h reduction in collision speed a pass. As a result, even successful tests can involve an aggressive collision and potentially cause damage to the test vehicle and equipment. Automating these tests helps to de-risk this scenario.”
The update builds on the efficiencies gained through automated Euro NCAP testing, introducing a series of enhancements to further streamline test programmes. The software integrates seamlessly with a full suite of ADAS testing tools, including driving robots, telemetry systems, ADAS objects and platforms, to create an end-to-end solution for vehicle testing. The result is a single, connected ecosystem that unites every element needed to plan, execute, and manage complex test programmes.
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