View source for Safety Assurance in Critical Automotive Control Systems: A Human-Centric and Standards-Compliant Approach

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|Summary=This research proposes an in-depth study into the safety aspects of critical automotive control systems, such as those found in autonomous vehicles. It will investigate the interplay between communication dependency in specific scenarios, adherence to international safety standards.
|Keywords=Automotive Safety, ISO 26262, ISO 21448, Communication Dependency, Human Factors, Cultural Aspects, Critical Control Systems.
|Supervisor=ALEXANDRE SANTOS ROQUE
|Level=Master
|Status=Open
}}
Goals: To comprehensively study vehicle safety, for example, autonomous cars, but not limited to, by integrating technical standards (ISO 26262, ISO 21448), communication dependency, and socio-cultural factors, aiming for safer and more acceptable autonomous mobility solutions.

Research Focus and Objectives: This thesis will focus on:

- Analyzing safety implications of communication dependency in critical autonomous driving scenarios.
- Investigating challenges and applications of ISO 26262 and ISO 21448 for advanced autonomous features.
- Exploring user perceptions, trust, and cultural influences on autonomous vehicle safety and acceptance.
- Identifying and addressing gaps between technical safety implementations and human expectations/behavior.

Methodology and Implementation: 
The study will involve an extensive literature review on safety standards, communication protocols, and human factors. Critical driving scenarios will be analyzed for communication-related safety risks. Current autonomous vehicle discussions need to be reviewed, also considering the recent applications of standards as ISO 26262 and ISO 21448, and others. User perspectives on safety and acceptance could be gathered via surveys or interviews. Evaluate the application of a conceptual framework to integrate technical safety with human-centric design.

Project Deliverables: 
Key deliverables include a detailed analysis report on communication-dependent safety aspects, a comparative study of safety standards application, a report on user perception and cultural challenges, and a conceptual framework for integrated automotive safety design.

Main Tasks:
Task 1: Conduct a comprehensive literature review on autonomous vehicle safety, communication dependency, ISO 26262, ISO 21448, and human factors in automotive contexts.
Task 2: Analyze specific critical autonomous driving scenarios to identify safety risks stemming from communication reliance and potential failures.
Task 3: Examine how existing and emerging autonomous vehicle technologies align with, or deviate from, the requirements of ISO 26262 and ISO 21448.
Task 4: Design and execute a qualitative and/or quantitative study (surveys, interviews, focus groups) to capture user views, cultural aspects, and challenges related to autonomous vehicle safety and trust.
Task 5: Synthesize findings from technical analysis, standards compliance, and human factors to identify key safety gaps and potential mitigation strategies.
Task 6: Develop a conceptual framework or set of guidelines for integrating technical safety standards with user expectations and cultural considerations in autonomous vehicle design.
Task 7: Finalize thesis document and prepare for academic dissemination.

Deliverables (Besides the final thesis document):

Detailed report on the safety implications of communication dependency in critical autonomous driving scenarios.
Analysis of compliance and challenges of ISO 26262 and ISO 21448 in autonomous systems.
Report summarizing user perceptions, trust, and cultural factors affecting autonomous vehicle safety.
A conceptual framework for holistic safety design in critical automotive control systems.

Evaluation Criteria:

The depth of analysis of communication-dependent safety risks.
The thoroughness in assessing standards compliance and identifying practical challenges.
The robustness and insights derived from the user studies on human factors and cultural aspects.
The practical relevance and novelty of the proposed conceptual framework.