IEEE ITSC 2026 Tutorial

OpenADS Tutorial

Date 15 September 2026

Location Naples, Italy

Registration ieee-itsc.org/2026

2.5 Hours Hands-On Experience Contribution Process

View Program

Collaborative development and benchmark-driven evaluation.

OpenADS explores how distributed partners can build compatible automated driving services and use benchmarks to identify stronger system compositions.

The work is embedded in Germany's Ecosystem Mobility 4.0 initiative and aligned with the European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance .

What is OpenADS?

An open ecosystem for Automated Driving Systems.

OpenADS is a collaborative, open-source ecosystem for Automated Driving Systems.

OpenADStack connects multiple services into a runnable AD stack.
OpenADServices are collaborative function-level modules.
OpenADSim supports simulation-driven scenario-based testing.
OpenADSuite provides development tools.
OpenADShowcases demonstrate real-world implementations.

OpenADS ecosystem diagram with OpenADServices, OpenADStack, OpenADSim, OpenADSuite, and benchmark-driven evaluation

Microservice Architecture

ROS-package-level modules can be developed independently while CI/CD keeps them integrated in the overall system.

Containerization

Each module defines its dependencies and container image, so developers can start work without running the full stack.

Flexibility

Modular interfaces support evolving ADS architectures without restructuring the entire system.

Transparency

Open CI tests and benchmarks make contributed modules easier to evaluate, compare, integrate, or remove.

Tutorial focus

Compact introduction

hands-on interaction,

and contribution path.

The tutorial explains why collaborative OpenADS development matters, then moves into a 75-minute practical session with the reference stack and benchmark-driven evaluation in simulation.

Motivation

Why shared interfaces, reusable services, and neutral evaluation are needed for open AD systems.

Hands-on session

Work with OpenADS, integrate OpenADServices, and run benchmark-oriented OpenADSim workflows.

How to contribute

Learn how services, code, benchmarks, and validation results can become part of the OpenADS ecosystem.

Tentative 2.5-hour program

09:00-11:30 tutorial agenda.

09:00-09:10

Welcome and Introduction

Scope, learning objectives, and setup.

All organizers

09:10-09:30

Why Collaborative OpenADS Development?

Motivation and system-level challenges.

All organizers

09:30-10:45

OpenADS Hands-On: Reference Implementation

Integrating OpenADServices into OpenADStack and evaluating them with OpenADSim, OpenADSuite, and neutral benchmarks.

Raphael van Kempen and Christian Geller, RWTH Aachen University

10:45-11:05

V&V Activities and Homologation Perspective

Scenario-based V&V, traceable evidence, and homologation-oriented safety arguments for OpenADS.

Dr.-Ing. Marc René Zofka, FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik

11:05-11:25

From Code to Community

Collaboration processes, governance, and contribution models.

Dr. Timo Woopen, Thinking Cars GmbH

11:25-11:30

Wrap-Up and Summary

Lessons learned and next collaboration steps.

All organizers

Practical setup

Bring curiosity and be ready to work with OpenADS.

The tutorial is designed for intensive participant interaction. Motivation and collaboration talks frame the problem, but the central value comes from working directly with the OpenADS ecosystem.

The 2.5-hour format keeps the tutorial compact and focused: a short setup, a motivation talk, a hands-on session, and concise transfer discussions. If the local setup allows it, participants can execute the OpenADS ecosystem live during the session.

Target audience

Researchers, engineers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders interested in OpenADS, supplier integration, service selection, simulation-based evaluation, and pre-development validation.