What is the difference between ISO 26262 and SOTIF?

ISO 26262 and SOTIF are two important standards in the field of functional safety for vehicles. While both aim to ensure the safety of autonomous and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), there are key differences between them. This article provides an of ISO 26262 and SOTIF, their scopes, approaches, and the reasons why they complement each other in achieving overall safety.

ISO 26262: Functional Safety Standards for Road Vehicles

ISO 26262 is an international standard developed for the automotive industry to provide a systematic and comprehensive approach to manage functional safety risks. It focuses on addressing hazards caused by malfunctions of electrical and electronic systems within road vehicles. The standard defines requirements at various stages of the product development lifecycle, including management, system engineering, hardware and software development, production, operation, service, and decommissioning.

SOTIF: Safety Of The Intended Functionality

SOTIF, on the other hand, addresses potential hazardous situations arising from the intended functionality of systems, especially those involving autonomous driving technologies. It recognizes that even if a system is functioning correctly according to ISO 26262, it may still encounter scenarios where it cannot detect or respond appropriately. SOTIF focuses on identifying and mitigating these situations to prevent accidents or harm to road users, and it complements ISO 26262 by addressing limitations in its scope.

Complementary Relationship

While ISO 26262 and SOTIF have distinct scopes, they share a complementary relationship. ISO 26262 primarily deals with known risks resulting from malfunctions, whereas SOTIF addresses unknown risks associated with the intended functionality of autonomous systems. By leveraging both standards, automotive manufacturers can achieve a more comprehensive approach to safety, covering both system failures and situations where the system's intended functionality is inadequate.

In conclusion, ISO 26262 and SOTIF are two essential standards for ensuring functional safety in autonomous and ADAS-equipped vehicles. ISO 26262 provides guidelines for managing risks due to malfunctions, while SOTIF focuses on mitigating hazards arising from the intended functionality of systems. These standards work together to ensure comprehensive safety, enabling the development of reliable and trustworthy autonomous technologies that make our roads safer for everyone.