Smart Features Integrated for Prognostics Health Management Assure the Functional Safety of the Electronics Systems at the High Level Required in Fully Automated Vehicles

Abstract

The current developments in automotive industry toward automated driving require a massive increase in functionality, number, and complexity of the electronic systems. At the same time, the functional safety of those electronic systems must be improved beyond the high requirements applied today already. Designing the systems for a guaranteed lifetime on statistical average will no longer suffice. Therefore, new methods in the design and reliability assessment toward maintainable or replaceable systems are required. Prognostics and health management (PHM) provides the way for this upgrade in reliability methodology. The paper introduces a multi-level PHM strategy based on smart sensors and detectors integrated into the functional electronic units so that maintenance can be triggered if needed yet always well before the actual failure occurs in the individual system.