Gaurav Pokharkar is an automotive engineer specializing in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and vehicle safety technologies. He currently serves as a Vehicle Test Engineer, where he validates and optimizes AI-driven ADAS features. Previously, he worked at Ford and Valeo, contributing to the development and launch of SAE Level 2 capabilities for mass-production vehicles. Outside of his professional work, he builds Raspberry Pi–based projects and designs practical 3D-printed solutions for everyday applications.

Title - Testing and Validation Challenges in ADAS and Autonomous Vehicle Systems -  Abstract -  Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles rely heavily on AI-driven perception, probabilistic decision-making, and large-scale data pipelines. Traditional deterministic validation models are insufficient for statistically proving safety in complex, real-world environments. This talk examines the technical challenges in simulation, real-world testing, long-tail edge cases, regulatory compliance, and AI validation. It also explores the emerging role of generative and agentic AI in transforming automotive safety testing methodologies.