At aiMotive, we're constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in virtual testing. Today, we're excited to share a breakthrough setting a new industry benchmark: in partnership with AVL ZalaZONE , we've created the world's first neural-reconstructed, fully digitalized automotive proving ground.

 

AVL ZalaZONE is not just any test track. Located in Hungary, it's one of the most advanced facilities for testing connected and autonomous vehicles in Europe. With its wide variety of test environments – from city traffic to high-speed tracks – it has become a hub for validating the future of mobility. Now, for the first time, this real-world testing environment has a digital twin created using aiMotive's proprietary neural reconstruction pipeline and hybrid rendering approach.

Neural reconstruction meets real-world complexity

Traditional 3D modeling methods are time-consuming and can lack the realism required to validate cutting-edge perception systems. By using neural reconstruction, powered by camera and LiDAR data, we're able to generate a photorealistic, centimeter-accurate digital twin of AVL ZalaZONE that captures not just the geometry but the intricate surface details and textures of the environment. Every bump, crack, and curb is faithfully reproduced.

Our hybrid rendering pipeline then brings this neural model to life inside aiSim, our ISO 26262 ASIL-D-certified simulator. The result is an unprecedented level of realism that bridges the gap between synthetic testing and real-world validation.

Why this matters

Virtual testing has become a cornerstone of automotive development. However, the fidelity determines the efficacy of your simulation. By combining AVL ZalaZONE's complexity with our neural rendering technology, we've created a testbed that enables virtual testing by:

 

• Centimeter-level accuracy of the real-world test track,
• Photorealistic 3D environment quality,
• Repeatable and controllable scenarios to meet regulatory standards and safety requirements,
• Scalability that allows for accommodating various scenarios and conditions that might be difficult or time-consuming to replicate in the real world.

 

This level of detail and accuracy allows our partners and customers to simulate various driving conditions and scenarios and perform validation activities virtually without significantly extending the test coverage with virtual test cases.

Real data – real results

This project wasn't just an experiment – it's a functional demonstration of how simulation and AI can work hand-in-hand to transform the automotive development cycle. From high-fidelity sensor simulation to perception model training and driving policy validation, AVL ZalaZONE in aiSim is now an active tool in our ecosystem.

We believe this digital track will not only accelerate the development of automated driving systems but also provide a replicable blueprint for digitalizing other real-world locations using our pipeline.

Looking ahead

This is only the beginning. We envision a future where entire cities, highways, and test tracks can be reconstructed precisely, enabling an ecosystem where virtual and physical validation work together seamlessly.

By combining simulation with advanced AI and leveraging industry-leading partners like AVL ZalaZONE, we're bringing the future of automotive testing closer than ever.

Stay tuned as we roll out more locations and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible in virtual development.