AUTOMATED MOVING PLATFORM

This disclosure describes systems and methods used in the development and validation of autonomous vehicles ability to track objects with sensors. This application describes a self-propelled autonomous platform and methods for carrying a pedestrian, cyclist or vehicular type target in a predetermined pattern during one or more testing runs. The self-propelled autonomous platform includes a sensor configured to retract within a platform housing of the self-propelled autonomous platform when being driven over during a test run.