An approach supporting fault-propagation analysis for smart sensor systems

Abstract

Distributed sensor-actuator-systems in automotive or avionic applications have to fulfill safety requirements strictly. Those implementation has to be monitored during the development process and on run-time. For this purpose we presented a data centric fault categorization, fault representation and measurement validation concept. In this paper we enhance our approach and describe a fault propagation mechanism suitable for a permanent evaluation of tolerable fault level. Based on a common fault representation each component is characterized by its effects on the signal validity. As shown in an exemplary scenario the proposed matrix notation provides a flexible and powerful method to implement and monitor the fault propagation. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.