From Cradle to Grave: Developing the Life Cycle for Operational Design Domains for Autonomous Driving Systems

Automated driving systems (ADS) have significant potential to make mobility safer and more efficient as they evolve and integrate new technology. These advances continuously change the operational boundaries where ADS can operate safely as specified by the operational design domain (ODD). Nevertheless, research into ADS and ODD is still in its infancy, so that long-term concepts that cover the entire product life cycle are not yet available. Current research focuses on the initial development of ADS and ODD. A more comprehensive perspective, particularly regarding the long-term evolution of an ODD during operation and throughout the life cycle of an ADS, remains largely unaddressed. This paper describes an overview of the life cycle of an ADS and its corresponding ODD that consists of initial development, ongoing versioning, and end-of-life management. Furthermore, the paper examines how the definition and implementation of an ODD, as an essential asset for ADS development, influence the phases identified in the ADS life cycle to ensure alignment with the requirements of the stakeholders.