Oulu is a technology-driven city where the automotive cluster stands out as a rapidly developing and influential part of the broader ICT ecosystem. The automotive sector in Oulu is known for its strong focus on digitalization, smart mobility, and sustainable solutions. Leveraging the region’s deep expertise in wireless technologies and ICT, companies collaborate to develop advanced systems for electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and intelligent transportation. This innovative environment supports both established companies and startups, positioning Oulu as an emerging hub for future-oriented automotive development. One notable collaboration takes place with the University of Oulu, where new research and initiatives continue to shape the industry.
Why Traditional Vehicle Testing Falls Short
Technology, electrification, and digitalization are advancing rapidly, and the automotive sector is evolving along with them. However, these developments also bring challenges. One of the major challenges is the difficulty of testing new in-car software and features safely, affordably, and efficiently on physical vehicles. This is where new solutions become essential. Today, we are excited to highlight one of these developments: the University of Oulu’s new Unreal Engine–based testbed, designed to address exactly this challenge.
To support realistic and meaningful testing environments, the testbed uses Unreal Engine to visualize VSS (Vehicle Signal Specification) data. VSS is an open data model maintained by Covesa, a consortium of automotive manufacturers and service providers. It provides a standardized way to describe vehicle data so that it is understandable by both humans and machines. Because VSS is open-source and extendable, new custom data points can be added as needed, making it a flexible foundation for simulating and visualizing in-car systems.
Unreal Engine Meets VSS: Real-Time Innovation at Oulu
Let’s take a closer look at the solution provided by the University of Oulu. This Unreal Engine–based testbed is developed specifically for the automotive industry, offering a controlled environment for simulation and testing. Its purpose is to support future development and research by enabling companies to test new software and features easily with different vehicle configurations without needing access to physical cars. Importantly, this initiative is developed and maintained by the University of Oulu and is intended to be used directly by companies within the automotive sector.
The Technology: Unreal Engine & VSS
The testbed uses VSS to provide standardized, easy-to-use vehicle data, and Unreal Engine to deliver realistic, real-time visualizations. It consists of three parts: the Unreal Engine simulation, a Kuksa Client, and a data broker. The user defines VSS signals in their code, and when a signal changes, all components respond accordingly, allowing developers to test and see results instantly in a virtual vehicle environment.
Before concluding, it is crucial to highlight the key benefits that this new testbed offers:
- Real-Time Visualization: View data changes instantly within the simulated environment.
- Ease of Testing: Supports testing across different vehicles and configurations without requiring physical cars.
- Futureproofing: Enables ongoing development, research, and introduction of new in-car features.
- Open and Flexible: Allows custom visualization and extension, including proprietary features.
In conclusion, the rapidly evolving automotive sector has been in need of new and accessible testbed solutions, and the University of Oulu has responded to this need with its Unreal Engine–based VSS data visualization testbed.
We are excited to introduce this new tool, and we invite companies in the automotive industry who are looking for flexible, efficient, and easy-to-use testing environments to explore it further.
If your company is interested in learning more or collaborating, feel free to contact us!
Learn more about the Oulu Automotive Cluster here.