Softwarehelden GmbH has expanded its Assisted Testing solution, Cluu, with the CLUU CO-DRIVER, a conversational AI assistant designed specifically for vehicle testing. Test drivers and validation engineers can now interact with the system naturally while driving, document observations, and retrieve information about the ongoing test. The CO-DRIVER automatically assigns spoken information to the appropriate test cases and stores it in a structured format within the central database.
The new feature has been specifically developed for mobile use inside the vehicle. Defects, evaluations and test protocols no longer need to be entered manually using forms or separate input devices after the test drive. Instead, users simply describe their observations in natural language—as if they were talking to a co-driver. The AI understands the engineering context, interprets the spoken information and automatically populates the corresponding fields of the relevant test case.
The CLUU CO-DRIVER not only supports documentation but also enables a genuine dialogue with the available test data. Users can ask, for example, which test items are still pending, what tasks need to be completed next, or which vehicle and test information has been stored for the current validation program. The assistant immediately responds using the information already available in Cluu.
This significantly simplifies documentation in driving situations where manual data entry is impractical or distracting. Observations can be captured the moment they occur, reducing interruptions to the testing process and minimizing the risk of losing important details during later documentation.
"With the CLUU CO-DRIVER, artificial intelligence becomes an active companion throughout vehicle testing. Engineers no longer have to navigate complex input forms — they can simply communicate with the system as naturally as they would with an experienced co-driver. This allows them to keep their attention on the vehicle and the test itself," said Uli Held, Managing Director of Softwarehelden GmbH.
Unlike conventional speech-to-text solutions, the CLUU CO-DRIVER does far more than generate a transcript. Spoken information is automatically interpreted within the context of the current test assignment, linked to the corresponding test steps and stored as structured engineering data. This makes the captured information immediately available for downstream processes, reporting, analysis and collaboration across the entire testing team.
The CO-DRIVER is fully integrated into Cluu Assisted Testing, Softwarehelden's end-to-end platform supporting the complete vehicle validation process—from planning and preparation through execution, evaluation and defect tracking. Existing test information, vehicle data, test orders and results are connected on a single integrated platform.
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, Softwarehelden develops the digitalization platform Cluu. Originally created for vehicle development and validation in the automotive industry, Cluu today connects existing IT systems through a virtual graph database and helps organizations digitalize complex business processes. More than 30,000 users rely on the Germany-developed, TISAX-certified and GDPR-compliant platform. Customers include Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen, Würth and Fendt.
