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Why Should You Prioritize Functional Safety from the Start of Your Embedded Project?

Have you considered how overlooking functional safety might affect your project’s success? Addressing these concerns early can save significant time and resources down the line. Have you ever considered what could happen if a critical system in your project fails unexpectedly? Whether you’re developing embedded systems for automotive, aerospace, or medical applications, have you placed functional safety at the forefront of your planning and design? If not, the consequences could be severe, from product recalls to potential harm to users.

The definition of Functional Safety is “systems that lead to the freedom from unacceptable risk of injury or damage to the health of people by the proper implementation of one or more automatic protection functions (often called safety functions). A safety system consists of one or more safety functions.”  Ensuring functional safety is not just a regulatory requirement but a crucial factor in building reliable, trustworthy systems.

So, what are the main benefits of functional safety?

  1. Minimizing risks early on

By integrating functional safety considerations from the beginning, you can identify potential hazards and failure points early in the design process. Neglecting functional safety until the end of product development carries significant risk, you might discover too late that your product doesn’t meet safety criteria, forcing costly redesigns or even recalls.

  1. Cost-effective development

Addressing functional safety from the outset can significantly reduce the overall cost of development. Identifying and mitigating safety risks early helps prevent costly redesigns, extensive testing, and potential delays in the later stages of the project. Additionally, achieving certification for safety-critical systems becomes more efficient when safety is integrated from the beginning.

  1. Improved system reliability

A focus on functional safety ensures that your system is robust, reliable, and able to handle unexpected conditions without catastrophic failure. This reliability is particularly important in embedded systems that control critical functions, such as braking in a car or monitoring vital signs in a medical device. By prioritizing safety, you enhance the overall quality and trustworthiness of your product.

Functional Safety Standards

The foundational Functional Safety standard is IEC 61508, which is applicable to all industries. However, many industries have developed their own standards based off IEC 61508, such as ISO 26262 for automotive and IEC 62304 for medical device software.

Safety vs. Security

As we delve deeper into the development of embedded systems, it’s essential to understand the relationship between functional safety and another critical aspect, security. While safety ensures that a system operates without causing harm, security protects the system from malicious threats that could compromise its safety functions. Neglecting security can, therefore, directly impact safety, making it essential to address both aspects together. Security involves protecting the system from intentional attacks or unauthorized access that could compromise the system’s functionality or integrity.

While often discussed separately, safety and security are intrinsically linked, especially in the context of an RTOS.

Balancing Safety and Security

An RTOS is a critical component in many embedded systems, particularly in safety-critical applications. By meticulously managing task execution and ensuring strict timing constraints, it safeguards system integrity. Its ability to isolate tasks prevents failures from cascading, mitigating both safety and security risks. Moreover, an RTOS guarantees predictable response times, ensuring critical functions are executed reliably and on time. This is crucial for safety-critical applications while maintaining essential security measures without compromising real-time performance.

Selecting an RTOS that is designed with both safety and security in mind is crucial for the success of your embedded systems project. For instance, an RTOS that offers pre-certification to industry standards, along with enhanced security features, can simplify the compliance process. This approach not only ensures that your system meets regulatory requirements but also protects against potential security vulnerabilities. Solutions such as SAFERTOS®, pre-certified to ISO 26262 and equipped with an Enhanced Security Module, exemplify how integrating safety and security from the outset can streamline development, reduce complexity, and lower long-term costs while ensuring compliance with a wide range of safety standards.

Conclusion

As you embark on your next embedded systems project, take the time to evaluate how well your current processes address both functional safety and security. Choosing the right RTOS, like SAFERTOS® with its Enhanced Security Module, can streamline compliance and ensure your systems are both safe and secure from the start, significantly reducing the complexity and cost associated with compliance.

Discover how integrating an RTOS like SAFERTOS® can be a game-changer for your project’s safety and security. Explore demos, expert insights, and practical resources to see how SAFERTOS® can elevate your project’s success.

Author

Emiliano Costagli, Senior Principal Software Engineer

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