AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY INTEGRITY LEVEL
A development methodology for safety-critical systems
Project leader: Bert Dexters
The formerly essentially mechanical vehicle systems have been transformed into complex, functionally interdependent ‘mechatronic’ systems with integrated software. This evolution applies to all important vehicle functions. However, precisely because of this complexity of the vehicle’s dynamics and functionalities, a development fault or external failure may lead to a safety-critical situation. A correct and systematic application of the international functional safety standards in system development and project management helps to minimise this risk.
Project leader: Bert Dexters
The formerly essentially mechanical vehicle systems have been transformed into complex, functionally interdependent ‘mechatronic’ systems with integrated software. This evolution applies to all important vehicle functions. However, precisely because of this complexity of the vehicle’s dynamics and functionalities, a development fault or external failure may lead to a safety-critical situation. A correct and systematic application of the international functional safety standards in system development and project management helps to minimise this risk.
Goals
The purpose of this project is to build know-how and competences based on the various safety standards and to translate them into a generic development method, the so-called FLAME (or “Flanders’ ASIL Methodology”). Its application will help to make the system development of any type of vehicle or machine more transparent and predictable. This development method builds on the knowledge of the V-model gained in earlier system development projects (e.g. active suspension) and its application makes the whole system development process more transparent and predictable.
Methodology
First, we study all requirements set by the relevant functional safety standards. Then, we will map the development processes used by the project partners today. Based on this, we will develop a generic development method with the necessary supporting processes, guidelines for system architectures and techniques. Finally, this methodology is optimised using two industrial user applications.
Phases
- Listing and studying the safety standards for vehicles and machines
- Making an inventory of the development processes and safety architectures of the project partners
- Setting up a database with all functional safety requirements
- Defining a generic lifecycle and methodology for developing safety-critical systems
- Drawing up sample documents for safety-related work products
- Validating and optimising the methodology using two industrial applications
Results
- The safety requirements are available in a database that allows for targeted search actions.
- The FLAME method is available as a user-friendly web application and is the basis for the industrial user applications that will start early 2011.
Project Duration
01/01/2009 - 01/11/2011
Core competencies
Partners
