Nowadays, vehicles are more than simple machines to transport the people or even to enjoy a ride. The vehicles should fulfil the traditional requirements, but at same time, they should incorporate more functionalities to be able to be safe, connected and offer other kind of services to their users. Most of the additional functionalities onboard should be set and adapted to the different markets due to different reasons: country environment, market characteristics, local language, user profile and even for local homologation. The current vehicles functionalities that are incorporated in the vehicles are related to different fields. The most popular ones are as follows: 1. ADAS: Driving functions, safety functions, parking functions 2. Electronics/Connectivity: Infotainment, Connectivity/telematics, Navigation, Remote apps/OTA updates 3. e-Powertrain: Energy Management and mileage prediction, DC/AC Charging, Functional test, Vehicle-Charger Compatibility, High-level communication analysis, Operational Hybrid Strategy Although the first phases of the validation and adaption chain use to be done in laboratory and test track because of the low maturity of the vehicle systems, an important part of the validation and adaptation should be done in real conditions at each market. For this reason, OEMs and TIER-1 companies are performing Worldwide Field Operational Test (FOT). This part of the validation uses to be done in last stages of vehicle prototype, where vehicles and system are mature, but in some cases, it could be done earlier due to the system allows to be operated and tested in a non-definitive vehicle like Production Trails/Pilot Production of Pre-Series. For this reason, it is required to dispose of international capability and a global methodology for recording and evaluating the recorded data of the vehicle functionalities behavior in all the target markets, to ensure the product works fine and their adaptation is well fitted according to the region where the OEM wants to sell it. The purpose of the transversal methodology consists in 3 main pillars: • Ensure a way to record proper data with the minor duration and devoted resources • Be able to analyze this data to validate the functional operation of the system onboard • Ensure that the legal requirements are fulfilled, in terms of personal data protection and permission to drive test vehicles with non-definitive system in public roads The present study explores the aspects to be considered in each of these research pillars based in the current conceptualizations about technical needs, current functionalities, market tendencies and tools to ensure a high-quality recording method and a good fulfilling of legal requirements. It also highlights the constrains that are faced where transferring high-volume data and when this data is transferred between countries and continents where local regulations and laws are different. The gained insights underscore the importance to consider this methodology in advance, before starting any recording activity, to obtain the maximum profit in terms of data value and project cost-efficiency.

Mr. Raul Saez, Senior Product Manager, Applus IDIADA