Automotive hardware functional safety works by implementing a variety of safety measures in the hardware of a vehicle to prevent accidents and protect occupants and other road users from harm.
One key aspect of automotive hardware functional safety is the use of sensors and systems that can detect potential hazards on the road and respond accordingly. For example, a vehicle may be equipped with sensors that can detect other vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles in the road, and use that information to adjust the vehicle's speed or trajectory to avoid a collision.
Another important aspect of automotive hardware functional safety is the use of fail-safe systems that can take over control of the vehicle in the event of a malfunction or failure. This can include things like backup systems that can take over control of the vehicle's braking, steering, or acceleration in the event that the primary systems fail, or emergency shutdown systems that can shut down the vehicle in the event of a critical failure.
In addition, automotive hardware functional safety also includes the implementation of safety standards and guidelines set by regulatory bodies such as ISO 26262. This standard outlines the process of functional safety for electrical and/or electronic systems in production vehicles. This includes the creation of a safety plan, hazard analysis, and risk assessment, and implementation of safety measures to mitigate identified hazards and risks.
Overall, the goal of automotive hardware functional safety is to minimize the risk of accidents and injuries caused by hardware-related issues in vehicles, by implementing a variety of safety measures and fail-safe systems, and following safety standards and guidelines.