Advancing Safe Autonomous Mobility Through Collaboration with TÜV Rheinland

At IGNITE by FORVIA HELLA, we are developing technologies that make autonomous mobility safer, more transparent, and legally compliant. One of our core innovations in this field is the Traffic Rules Engine – a software module that ensures vehicle maneuvers are continuously verified against valid traffic regulations in real time.  Our ongoing collaboration with TÜV Rheinland Group plays a key role in bringing this solution closer to industrial application and regulatory readiness. Together, we are shaping the path toward certifiable autonomous driving systems that seamlessly combine innovation, safety, and compliance. 

The Traffic Rules Engine – Bridging Technology and Regulation 

The Traffic Rules Engine (TRE) developed by IGNITE acts as an intelligent layer between perception, decision-making, and control. Its purpose: to ensure that every automated maneuver complies with applicable traffic rules, in real time, and within the context of the vehicle’s current environment. 

Key capabilities include: 

• Real-time validation: The TRE continuously checks if intended maneuvers – such as lane changes, overtaking, or turning – comply with current traffic rules. 

• Context awareness: The system considers both static and dynamic factors, from permanent road signs to temporary restrictions, weather, and construction zones. 

• Seamless integration: Thanks to its modular architecture, the TRE can be easily embedded into existing ADAS and autonomous driving stacks. 

By combining environmental perception with regulatory logic, the Traffic Rules Engine ensures that autonomous driving decisions are not only technically sound but also legally explainable – an essential factor for safe and certifiable automated mobility. 

Collaboration for Trustworthy Autonomy 

Our partnership with TÜV Rheinland focuses on advancing both the technological and regulatory maturity of autonomous driving solutions. TÜV Rheinland’s expertise in safety validation and certification complements IGNITE’s experience in developing real-time automotive software.  Together, we are working on: 

• Aligning the TRE framework with international homologation and safety requirements for Level 3+ systems, 

• Establishing methods for traceable and explainable decision-making in automated driving, 

• And developing validation approaches that can bridge the gap between innovation and certification. 

This collaboration marks an important step toward ensuring that autonomous vehicle technologies meet not only performance expectations but also societal and regulatory trust standards. 

Looking Ahead 

Autonomous driving requires more than perception and control – it demands rule awareness, transparency, and accountability. The Traffic Rules Engine represents a crucial building block for this vision, enabling safe interaction between human-made traffic laws and machine-based decision systems.  By continuing to strengthen our collaboration with TÜV Rheinland, we are preparing the next generation of driving intelligence – one that makes autonomous vehicles both technically reliable and legally trustworthy.