Virtual Test System Research Articles

A Survey of Real-time Simulation and Hardware-in-the-loop Technology

This paper introduces the definition and background of real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop technology, and explains the concept, development process and application field of real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop technology, as well as its importance and advantages in practical applications. The research methods and technologies for real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop technology include commonly used methods and technologies for model establishment, control algorithm design, system integration, and experimental verification. For the application of real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop technology, specific cases in different fields are also listed, such as the design of distribution automation terminal in the kernel, the research of virtual test system of hardware-in-the-loop for unmanned vehicles, etc. Finally, the current challenges of real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop technology are stated, and the future development trend of the technology is summarized.

Exploring Innovative Methods in Maritime Simulation: A Ship Path Planning System Utilizing Virtual Reality and Numerical Simulation

In addressing the high costs, inefficiencies, and limitations of purely digital simulations in maritime trials for unmanned vessel path planning, this paper introduces a ship virtual path planning simulation test system. This system, unbound by temporal and spatial constraints, vividly showcases the navigational performance of vessels. After analyzing the virtual testing requirements for the autonomous navigation performance of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), we established the overall framework of this system. Data-driven by a numerical simulation platform, the system achieves synchronized operation between physical and virtual platforms and supports interactive path planning simulations between USVs and the virtual testing system. Furthermore, to address the limitations of traditional ship trajectory planning evaluation, this paper develops a global path planning fitness evaluation function that comprehensively considers trajectory safety, navigation distance, and vessel stability, achieving optimal comprehensive routes through the particle swarm optimization algorithm. Test results indicate an average roll reduction of 14.31% in the planned routes, with a slight increase in navigation distance. By integrating two-dimensional curve simulation with three-dimensional visualization, this paper not only overcomes the limitations of purely physical and purely virtual simulations but also enhances the overall credibility and intuitiveness of the simulation. Experimental results validate the system’s effectiveness, providing a novel method for autonomous navigation testing and evaluation of USVs.

Nonlinear vibration characteristics of virtual mass systems for wind turbine blade fatigue testing

Abstract. The biaxial fatigue test of wind turbine blades is helpful to shorten the test time and is more suitable for the actual operating conditions. Adding tuning masses to the blade is a common method for blade uniaxial testing at present, and its purpose is to adjust the load distribution in one direction of the blade. However, the tuning masses on the blade will affect the load distribution in the direction of the blade flap-wise and edge-wise at the same time in the biaxial test, so the concept of “virtual masses” is proposed to realize the decoupling of the load distribution in the biaxial test. Due to the limitation of the size of the virtual mass mechanism and the complex motion trajectory of the blade, the actual inertial effect provided by the virtual masses is different from the ideal situation, which will affect the resonance characteristics of the test system and the load distribution of the blade. Therefore, in order to evaluate the effect of the nonlinear effect introduced by the virtual masses on the resonance characteristics of the test system and the blade load distribution, the equivalent dynamic model of the bladed virtual mass test system was established by using the Lagrange method. Then, the nonlinear effects of blade amplitude and virtual mass installation parameters on the test system are obtained by a numerical method. Then, based on the nonlinear vibration theory, the approximate nonlinear amplitude–frequency characteristics of the test system are obtained, that is, the resonance frequency of the test system will decrease with the increase in the blade amplitude. Through the simulation analysis of two blades over 80 m in length, the applicability of the theoretical method is verified. It can be seen from the simulation results of the simulated uniaxial test that larger amplitudes of the blade and shorter connection rods will reduce the resonance frequency of the test system. When the vibration amplitude at the excitation point is the same, a lower resonance frequency results in a smaller load distribution level, that is, the area which is actually fully tested will be reduced. In the biaxial simulation test, the resonance frequency of the test system will be further reduced because the virtual masses will be affected by the coupled motion in both directions at the same time. Furthermore, the introduction of an external mechanism of the virtual mass will also cause deformation of the envelope of the blade biaxial trajectory, which will further affect the load distribution of the blade. This work explores the nonlinear influence of virtual masses on the actual fatigue test. The theoretical analysis is helpful to provide the basis and reference for the preliminary preparation work of the test organization, including adjusting the tuning mass scheme, adjusting the load distribution and selecting the appropriate excitation equipment.

A Virtual System and Method for Autonomous Navigation Performance Testing of Unmanned Surface Vehicles

An overall framework of the virtual testing system has been established based on the analysis of the virtual testing requirements for autonomous navigation performance of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). This system consists of several modules, including the environment module, motion module, sensor module, and 3D visualization module. Firstly, within the robot operating system (ROS) environment, a three-dimensional navigation environment was generated by combining actual wave spectra with Gerstner waves. By designing a power plugin for USV navigation, the system was made to reflects the coupled motion model of USVs in wind, waves and currents, along with predictive results. Regarding the four typical sensor information on USVs, the actual sensors were virtualized, and a simulation approach for virtual sensor information is provided. The three-dimensional visualization of USV’s motion enables the intuitive display and analysis of the virtual testing process. Based on the prediction of coupled motion characteristics in wind, waves and currents, the interaction between USVs and the virtual testing system has been realized. A platform for virtual testing experiments to determine the autonomous navigation performance of USVs was established, and the effectiveness of the platform was verified in terms of perception and environmental interference. In virtual environmental interference validation, the average amplitude deviation of the heave motion of USVs under sea state 3 reaches 0.74 m, and the average amplitude deviation of the pitch motion reaches 0.25 rad, showing the gradually increasing disturbance of the sea state. Finally, virtual testing experiments were conducted on a specific USV to evaluate its autonomous navigation perception performance, trajectory tracking performance, and autonomous obstacle avoidance. The evaluation results indicate that the platform can achieve the functionality of virtual testing for the autonomous navigation performance of USVs from the perspective of cost function, taking the reaction distance, regression distance, and obstacle avoidance time into consideration. A representative example is that the cost function deviation rates of overtaking obstacle avoidance between static and dynamic seas reach 5.11%, 8.98% and 18.43%, respectively. The gradually increasing data shows that the virtual simulating method matches the drifting-off-course tendency of boats in rough seas. This includes acquiring perception information of navigation and simulating the motion and navigation processes for visualization. The platform provides new means for testing and evaluating the autonomous navigation performance of USVs.

Design of tractor virtual test system based on high-level architecture technology.

The limitations of the tractor virtual test system are evident in various aspects, including model reuse, system expansion, offsite interconnection, and virtual reality verification. To address these challenges, a distributed virtual test system for tractors based on the high-level architecture (HLA) is proposed. Involve analyzing the hardware structure and the tractor virtual test system, constructing the system federation and its members, and designing the federated object model (FOM) and simulation object model (SOM) tables. The system integrates multi-domain commercial software and enables real-time virtual testing through TCP/IP interconnection of multiple machines. To evaluate the system's performance, a virtual test of the tractor's reversing clutch engagement performance is conducted. The system's simulation performance and data transmission delay are thoroughly tested and analyzed. The results indicate that when the system's data volume reaches 5000KB, the data delay is 9.7ms, which satisfies the requirement of not exceeding 10ms for tractor virtual testing delay. The virtual test of the reversing clutch power reversal process demonstrates that it lasts 0.7s, with the vehicle speed changing from -3.5km/h to 3.5km/h, the forward gear piston oil pressure increasing from 0MPa to 5MPa, and the peak impact degree reaching 17m/s3. The slip work during the reversing process is measured to be 21kJ. Furthermore, the gray correlation method is employed to compare the virtual test results with the bench test results, confirming their consistency. The power reversal process exhibits relatively smooth speed changes overall. Therefore, the tractor power shift transmission (PST) reversing clutch virtual test model operates effectively within the HLA-based tractor virtual test system.

Age-related differences in upper limb motor performance and intrinsic motivation during a virtual reality task

BackgroundIn recent years, virtual reality (VR) has evolved from an alternative to a necessity in older adults for health, medical care, and social interaction. Upper limb (UL) motor skill, is an important ability in manipulating VR systems and represents the brain’s regulation of movements using the UL muscles. In this study, we used a haptic-feedback Virtual Box and Block Test (VBBT) system and an Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) to examine age-related differences in UL motor performance and intrinsic motivation in VR use. The findings will be helpful for the development of VR applications for older adults.MethodsIn total, 48 young and 47 older volunteers participated in our study. The parameters including VBBT score, number of velocity peaks, velocity, grasping force and trajectory length were calculated to represent the task performance, manual dexterity, coordination, perceptive ability and cognitive ability in this study.ResultsAge-related differences could be found in all the parameters (all p < 0.05) in VR use. Regression analysis revealed that the task performance of young adults was predicted by the velocity and trajectory length (R2 = 64.0%), while that of older adults was predicted by the number of velocity peaks (R2 = 65.6%). Additionally, the scores of understandability, relaxation and tiredness were significantly different between the two groups (all p < 0.05). In older adults, the understandability score showed large correlation with the IMI score (|r| = 0.576, p < 0.001). In young adults, the correlation was medium (|r| = 0.342, p = 0.017). No significant correlation was found between the IMI score and VBBT score (|r| = 0.142, p = 0.342) in older adults, while a medium correlation (|r| = 0.342, p = 0.017) was found in young adults.ConclusionsThe findings demonstrated that decreased smoothness in motor skills dominated the poor VR manipulation in older adults. The experience of understandability is important for older adults’ intrinsic motivation in VR use.

항공기 비행특성 확인을 위한 다자유도 가상비행 및 자유비행 풍동실험 시스템 개발

항공기 개발 과정에서 비행제어시스템(FCS, Flight Control System)을 개발하고 검증하는 것은 매우 중요하며 장기간에 걸쳐 진행된다. 특히 항공기가 불안정한 특성이 발생될 수 있는 고받음각 상황에서 조종상실과 회복 과정 중 비행제어시스템의 정상적인 동작 여부의 검증은 비행시험 단계에서 비행시험의 위험성과 비용을 크게 감소시킬 수 있다. 그러나 비행시험 없이 실제 비행환경을 모사하여 동적 실험을 수행하고 비행제어시스템을 검증할 수 있는 시스템을 구성하는 것은 매우 어렵다. 공군사관학교 아음속 풍동실험실에서는 실제 비행환경과 매우 유사한 환경에서 동적특성을 파악할 수 있는 풍동실험 시스템을 구축하였다. 3자유도 짐벌과 리그를 개발하여 다자유도 가상비행(VFT, Virtual Flight Test) 풍동실험을 가능하게 하였고, 기존 폐회로 풍동 측정부를 개방형으로 개조하여 자유비행 풍동실험을 수행하였으며, 이를 통해 항공기 비행특성을 확인하고 비행제어시스템을 검증하였다.

Design and simulation of vehicle vibration test based on virtual reality technology

Abstract When a car is operating, the road roughness will cause it to vibrate. When this vibration reaches a particular threshold, the driver will get uncomfortable and fatigued, affecting the bearing system’s durability and longevity. The vehicle vibration virtual test system’s framework design and implementation approach is based on virtual reality (VR), and it is made up of a VR subsystem, a model subsystem, and a virtual instrument subsystem. A virtual car vibration test system based on VR is built, and the results of the virtual vehicle vibration test are reported. The findings indicate that the virtual test (VT) technology theoretical model pertains to the creation of VT systems for car vibration based on VR. Users may monitor the vehicle vibration as well as its time domain and frequency domain signals in three separate observation modes using the system.

A novel approach to investigate effects of front-end structures on injury response of e-bike riders: Combining Monte Carlo sampling, automatic operation, and data mining

Transportation safety related to e-bikes is becoming more problematic with the growing popularity in recent decade years, however, rare studies focused on the protection for e-bike riders in traffic accidents. This paper aimed to investigate the relationship between vehicle front-end structures and rider’s injury based on a novel approach including modeling, sampling, and analyzing. Firstly, a parametrized model for front-end structures of the vehicle was developed with nine parameters to realize the standardization of multi-body models of car to e-bike collision considering three stature riders and different impacting velocities. Secondly, a framework, combining Monte Carlo sampling for twelve initial variables and automatic operation for 1000 impact simulations, was built to obtain valid results automatically and then to construct a big dataset. Finally, according to the sensitive variables to riders’ vulnerable regions, the decision tree algorithm was further adopted to develop the decision or prediction model on injuries. The novel approach achieved the stochastical generation of vehicle shapes and the automatic operation of multi-body models. The results showed that the rider’s head, pelvis, and thighs were more vulnerable to being injured in the car to e-bike perpendicular accidents. The three decision tree models (HIC15, lateral force of pelvis, bending moment of upper leg) were validated to be accurate and reliable according to the confusion matrix with the precision of more than 80% and the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) with the under area more than 85%. Based on decision tree models, not only the effects of front-end structural parameters on the corresponding injury but also the interaction mechanism between various variables can be clearly interpreted. Each route from the same root node to hierarchical middle nodes then to various leaf nodes represented a decision-making process. And the different branches under the same decision node directly illustrated the correlation between variables, which is highly readable and comprehensible. During the safety performance design of front-end structures, the rational value of variables could be decided according to decision routes that resulted in lower injury levels; Even if the accident was inevitable, the collision parameters could be controlled within a certain range for the least injury according to the prediction rules. Based on the novel framework coupling Monte Carlo sampling and automatic operation, it’s foreseeable to apply the parametric and standard car-to-e-bike collision models to develop the virtual test system and to optimize front-end shapes for rider’s protection.

Virtual shoe test system

In order to solve the problem of uncomfortable wearing shoes caused by foot type or shoe type of consumers, a virtual shoe test system is developed based on computer graphics knowledge. If the online shoe test has problems, it can provide personal customization for consumers. Firstly, the shoe database is constructed to store shoe last model and key parts data for data comparison and fast data query. Secondly, the method based on OBB and AABB bounding box and plane fitting is proposed. Based on the foot bottom surface, combined with the foot shape law and foot skeleton composition of Chinese people, the automatic extraction of key data and the automatic matching of foot and shoe last are realized. Finally, the OpenGL function is realized in the MFC program, and the 3D visualization of shoes and boots is realized. The mouse control function is added to the system, which improves the human-computer interaction experience.

Developing an integrated platform to enable hardware-in-the-loop for synchronous VR, traffic simulation and sensor interactions

Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) is a testing paradigm where physical sensors (e.g., monitoring sensors such as cameras and proximity sensors, and alarm sensors such as screaming traffic cones) are connected to a virtual test system that simulates reality (e.g., virtual work zone with simulated dangerous situations). This paradigm is well-suited for conducting user studies for work zone safety because virtual test systems can be implemented using virtual reality (VR), which allows for safe and realistic testing of a sensing system without putting workers in danger along with avoiding high upfront costs needed to generate physical research testbeds. However, when recreating physical work zones in VR, researchers face various challenges while representing traffic patterns in VR, such as the lack of bi-directional communication between traffic simulation platforms and user behaviors in VR, hardware compatibility and integration issues, and customization inflexibility during implementation. Researchers, who need to develop such platforms for research studies that involve high-risk exposure to participants, are in need of evaluating the options available for bringing together the components of such platforms. This study provides an overview of alternative ways to integrate components of platforms that enable hardware-in-the-loop for synchronous VR, traffic simulation, and sensor interactions to position researchers to make decisions based on the pros and cons of each alternative. This paper also presents the implementation of such an integrated platform that allows a two-way interface between traffic simulation and VR environments for work zone safety analysis. Outcomes of this work will lay out the steps in implementing the integrated and immersive platform to be used in work zone safety studies based on the guidance presented.

Virtual tests of robotic vehicle units for virtual commissioning

The creation of robotic vehicles for agricultural purposes is a promising direction in the automotive industry. The complexity of the self-driving truck's design, work in difficult operating conditions, and a large number of measuring devices and processing subsystems determine the relevance of creating a virtual test system. These tests are part of the overall virtual commissioning process for a robotic vehicle. The article discusses a set of basic subsystems that provide virtual tests based on a model-based approach: mathematical modeling, measurement modeling, information subsystem with databases, visualization and documentation subsystem. Metrological models of measuring channels for virtual tests have been developed, allowing simulating random vehicle parameter changes. The testing process covers all the most essential components of a robotic vehicle. For example, the article presents a dynamic model of the braking system of a robotic chassis and shows the results of braking modes' virtual tests. The developed virtual test system is used to create a KAMAZ truck as part of a robotic system for agricultural vehicles.

Virtual Digital Substation Test System and Interoperability Assessments

Interoperability testing and analysis tools provide a means for achieving and assuring the integrity of multivendor intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) data exchanges. However, the testing and analysis are very time consuming and error prone, and these problems worsen when a substation becomes large and complex during the engineering process, commission, replacement, maintenance, and extension. To address this challenge, this paper presents a virtual digital substation test system (VDSTS) with interoperability analysis tools for assessing and identifying the engineering challenges for the multiple-vendors digital substation. This VDSTS consists of three parts: (i) A virtual digital substation modelling for generating real-time digital substation primary plant operation and fault conditions, (ii) a standard IEC 61850-based substation protection, automation, and control (PAC) system architecture with multivendor IEDs and bay solutions, and (iii) multivendor Substation Configuration description Language (SCL) tools and in-house built data visualisation tool. The study focuses on the interoperability testing of sampled values (SV), generic object-oriented substation events (GOOSE), and manufacturing message specification (MMS) communication services, as defined in IEC 61850. The main issues identified are compatibility issues of SCL tools, protocol implementation issues, different information models, and application limitations. The outcomes will help utilities to reduce the risks associated with the general rollout of digital substations.

Research on Modal Parameter Identification Method of Railway Carbody Based on 6-DOF Vibration Test Bench

In order to avoid the additional influence on the test results caused by the inconsistency between the boundary conditions of the carbody and the reality when using the vibration exciter or hammer to test the free mode of the carbody, a 6-DOF vibration test bench is tried to simulate the actual motion posture of the carbody to test its modal parameters. For in-depth discussion, a full-scale virtual prototype of the 6-DOF vibration test bench was built, and on this basis, the test bench-carbody rigidflexible coupling virtual test system was established. According to the modal frequency range of the carbody to be tested and the actual load capacity of the test bench, the excitation frequency and amplitude of the test bench are determined. Through the virtual modal test, it is determined that the carbody should be elastically supported when testing the modal parameters of the carbody by using the vibration test bench, so as to accurately obtain the modal parameters of the carbody.

Application of tractor virtual test technology in product innovation design

As a necessary link for product development and evaluation, tractor testing covers new technologies in multidisciplinary fields and plays an important role in the research and development of product life cycle. This study discusses the research status of tractor test and evaluation technology and analyzes the new technology associated with the test and evaluation technology. Aiming at the problem of poor reusability, poor interoperability and weak expansion of the current tractor virtual test model, a virtual tractor-based test technology based on the architecture was proposed. The middleware technology, test data management technology, modeling technology and test environment construction technology in the tractor virtual test system were analyzed. Taking the tractor power shift transmission as an example, the application of the architecture-based virtual test system was verified, which pointed out the direction for the design verification of tractor innovative products.

Design and Implementation of UAV Engine Test System

To meet the testing requirements of small UAV piston engine, a virtual instrument-based UAV engine test system is designed. This system has the capability of on-line testing on engine even without the UAV system-wide support. With virtual instruments, serial analog-to-digital conversion and other new technologies, it can replace the ground control station to control the engine; realize rapid and portable testing as well as integrated display of the engine performance parameters; and based on the testing data, perform fault analysis and provide maintenance instructions when appropriate. The system covers the shortage of existing test methods, and improves the efficiency of UAV engine system test in field operations.

The Development of the Virtual Testing System of the Self-Driving Cleaning Truck Based on Virtual Reality Technology

With the development of autonomous driving technology, it is possible self-driving cleaning truck being driving and working automatically. However, a lot of field trials are timeconsuming and wasteful during the investigation of self-driving truck. In order to reduce lots of on-site and real vehicle tests, we construct a 3D virtual pilotless vehicle testing system for the cleaning truck based on virtual reality technology. 3DMax software is used to build virtual 3D scene static model and cleaning truck model. The established static models are imported into Unity3D to simulate different 3D scenes during cleaning truck self-driving. We designed a UI interface to build a virtual testing system of self-driving cleaning truck which is easy to realize human-computer interaction. we have achieved successfully the avoidance of obstacles and round-the-island driving. And we have successfully completed the identification of traffic lights and the pilotless driving test on crossroad virtual scene. In the virtual testing system, we can quickly experience the virtual testing scenes of the self-driving cleaning truck in various scenarios and get some kinematics information. The virtual testing system can partly replace the field tests and provide methods and theoretical guidance for field test, which can shorten the development cycle and save money, and is also unrestricted and repeatable. At the same time, the researching results provide new ideas and methods for the investigation of vehicle tests and pilotless driving.

A Virtual Over-the-Air Method for 5G Massive MIMO Base Station Testing With Flexible Virtual Probes

Massive multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) is known as a large-scale antenna technology and has been enabled for the fifth generation (5G) mobile communication systems. The over-the-air (OTA) testing of massive MIMO antenna system has attracted a lot of attention in terms of evaluating the radio performance of a 5G base station (BS). As a promising OTA test methodology, the sectored multi-probe anechoic chamber (MPAC) setup is employed for the performance testing of massive MIMO BS. However, the system cost and installation are still an issue to be considered in practice (e.g., the anechoic chamber and multiple probes), though it can accurately reconstruct the flexible propagation channels by channel emulation methods. This paper proposes a virtual OTA test framework for the performance testing of massive MIMO BS on the basis of MPAC setups. As an alternative, the proposed virtual OTA test system adopting the concept of virtual probes solves the inconveniences and limitations of the actual probe installation in MPAC setups. The BS array responses to the actual probes of MPAC setups are generated in a phase matrix for the virtual probes. First, in this paper, the system description of virtual OTA testing is given. Then, the emulation method of spatial clusters is presented for the virtual OTA testing. Finally, simulations are performed with good channel emulation accuracy.

Collision‐Free Path‐Planning for Six‐DOF Serial Harvesting Robot Based on Energy Optimal and Artificial Potential Field

Collision‐free autonomous path planning under a dynamic and uncertainty vineyard environment is the most important issue which needs to be resolved firstly in the process of improving robotic harvesting manipulator intelligence. We present and apply energy optimal and artificial potential field to develop a path planning method for six degree of freedom (DOF) serial harvesting robot under dynamic uncertain environment. Firstly, the kinematical model of Six‐DOF serial manipulator was constructed by using the Denavit‐Hartenberg (D‐H) method. The model of obstacles was defined by axis‐aligned bounding box, and then the configuration space of harvesting robot was described by combining the obstacles and arm space of robot. Secondly, the harvesting sequence in path planning was computed by energy optimal method, and the anticollision path points were automatically generated based on the artificial potential field and sampling searching method. Finally, to verify and test the proposed path planning algorithm, a virtual test system based on virtual reality was developed. After obtaining the space coordinates of grape picking point and anticollision bounding volume, the path points were drew out by the proposed method. 10 times picking tests for grape anticollision path planning were implemented on the developed simulation system, and the success rate was up to 90%. The results showed that the proposed path planning method can be used to the harvesting robot.

A virtual test system representing the distribution of pedestrian impact configurations for future vehicle front-end optimization

ABSTRACTObjectives: The purpose of this study is to define a computationally efficient virtual test system (VTS) to assess the aggressivity of vehicle front-end designs to pedestrians considering the distribution of pedestrian impact configurations for future vehicle front-end optimization. The VTS should represent real-world impact configurations in terms of the distribution of vehicle impact speeds, pedestrian walking speeds, pedestrian gait, and pedestrian height. The distribution of injuries as a function of body region, vehicle impact speed, and pedestrian size produced using this VTS should match the distribution of injuries observed in the accident data. The VTS should have the predictive ability to distinguish the aggressivity of different vehicle front-end designs to pedestrians.Methods: The proposed VTS includes 2 parts: a simulation test sample (STS) and an injury weighting system (IWS). The STS was defined based on MADYMO multibody vehicle to pedestrian impact simulations accounting for the range of vehicle impact speeds, pedestrian heights, pedestrian gait, and walking speed to represent real world impact configurations using the Pedestrian Crash Data Study (PCDS) and anthropometric data. In total 1,300 impact configurations were accounted for in the STS. Three vehicle shapes were then tested using the STS. The IWS was developed to weight the predicted injuries in the STS using the estimated proportion of each impact configuration in the PCDS accident data. A weighted injury number (WIN) was defined as the resulting output of the VTS. The WIN is the weighted number of average Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 2+ injuries recorded per impact simulation in the STS. Then the predictive capability of the VTS was evaluated by comparing the distributions of AIS 2+ injuries to different pedestrian body regions and heights, as well as vehicle types and impact speeds, with that from the PCDS database. Further, a parametric analysis was performed with the VTS to assess the sensitivity of the injury predictions to changes in vehicle shape (type) and stiffness to establish the potential for using the VTS for future vehicle front-end optimization.Results: An STS of 1,300 multibody simulations and an IWS based on the distribution of impact speed, pedestrian height, gait stance, and walking speed is broadly capable of predicting the distribution of pedestrian injuries observed in the PCDS database when the same vehicle type distribution as the accident data is employed. The sensitivity study shows significant variations in the WIN when either vehicle type or stiffness is altered.Conclusions: Injury predictions derived from the VTS give a good representation of the distribution of injuries observed in the PCDS and distinguishing ability on the aggressivity of vehicle front-end designs to pedestrians. The VTS can be considered as an effective approach for assessing pedestrian safety performance of vehicle front-end designs at the generalized level. However, the absolute injury number is substantially underpredicted by the VTS, and this needs further development.