AB Dynamics Automates Testing for New Euro NCAP 2026 Protocols
AB Dynamics extends its library of preconfigured test scenarios, enabling test teams to automate Euro NCAP’s latest crash avoidance scenarios, saving months of development time.
The latest additions include the upcoming Euro NCAP 2026 scenarios and now exceed more than 1,200 Euro NCAP tests.
The latest scenarios also include the challenging head-to-head collisions, involving a 200 km/h closing speed.
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.