Overview
ISO 23150-20:2026 - Road vehicles - Logical interface between sensors and data fusion unit for automated driving functions - Part 20: Supportive and sensor input interfaces is a standard developed by ISO to specify logical interfaces for sensors and sensor clusters in automated driving systems. This standard focuses on the supportive sensor interfaces for sensor performance, health information, and calibration, as well as a common sensor input interface. It is designed for in-vehicle use where sensors feed data into a data fusion unit to deliver automated driving functionalities.
Crucially, ISO 23150-20:2026 applies only to logical interfaces. It does not cover electrical or mechanical interface specifications, nor does it provide guidelines for raw data interfaces. Instead, it builds on generic specifications from ISO 23150-1 and is intended to work in parallel with other parts of the ISO 23150 series.
Key Topics
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Supportive Sensor Interfaces (SSI):
- Sensor Performance Interface: Communicates the operational performance and field of view (FOV) segment details, including performance characteristics and real-world recognition rates.
- Sensor Health Information Interface: Reports the health status of sensors, such as operational modes, fault detection, voltage and temperature status, and input signal statuses.
- Sensor Calibration Interface: Provides logical structures for conveying sensor calibration data, including alignment and position information needed for optimal sensor performance.
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Sensor Input Interface (SII):
- Common Sensor Input Interface: A unified interface for providing essential parameters and environmental data from multiple sources to a sensor or a sensor cluster, supporting the configuration and operational efficiency required for automated driving systems.
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Interface Structure and Signal Grouping:
- Logical structuring and grouping of information via headers, segment entities, and profiles ensure standardized communication between vehicle sensors and the data fusion unit.
- Multiplicity and grouping rules define how entities such as FOV segments, health signals, and calibration data are organized and exchanged.
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Scope Exclusions:
- The standard excludes the specification of physical (electrical, mechanical) connections and raw sensor data formats, focusing exclusively on logical data structures.
Applications
ISO 23150-20:2026 is applicable across a range of automated driving functions in road vehicles, supporting robust and modular integration of sensor data into fusion units. Typical applications include:
- Automated and autonomous vehicles: Ensures sensors feed harmonized, reliable, and context-rich data into the vehicle’s decision-making systems.
- Sensor clusters in Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS): Facilitates rapid diagnosis, reconfiguration, or recalibration in the event of faults or changing operational conditions.
- Modular vehicle platforms: Promotes reuse and interchangeability of sensor modules by standardizing logical interface definitions, improving safety and maintainability.
- System validation and simulation environments: Enables consistent sensor interface emulation for testing and validation of automated driving platforms.
Related Standards
ISO 23150-20:2026 is part of the broader ISO 23150 series, which standardizes logical interfaces between vehicle sensors and data fusion units. Related standards include:
- ISO 23150-1:2026 - General information and principles: Lays the foundational specifications for all logical interfaces in the series.
- ISO 23150-2 - Object level interface: Defines interfaces at the object detection and classification level.
- Technology-specific parts (ISO 23150-11, 12, 13, 14, 15): Provide detailed interface specifications for different sensor technologies and detection levels.
Practical Value
Implementing ISO 23150-20:2026:
- Promotes interoperability and scalability in automated driving systems.
- Reduces integration effort for multi-sensor environments.
- Increases system safety and reliability through standardized health monitoring and calibration exchange.
- Supports compliance and future-proofing for manufacturers and suppliers aiming for international market access.
By following this standard, automotive stakeholders can achieve more robust sensor-data communication, simplify functional updates, and speed up development cycles in the fast-evolving landscape of automated vehicles.