Operational Design Domain

The Operational Design Domain (ODD) defines the environmental and operational conditions under which an automated system, such as a self-driving car or autonomous train, is designed to function safely and reliably. Current research focuses on formally defining and quantifying the ODD, developing methods to ensure comprehensive testing within its boundaries (often using scenario databases and coverage metrics), and creating taxonomies to categorize and compare systems based on their ODD and level of automation. This work is crucial for ensuring the safe deployment of automated systems, informing regulatory frameworks, and facilitating meaningful comparisons between different technologies.