Model-based methods for improved maintainability and safety

Abstract: As technology improves by each passing day, so does its use in the automotive industry.Modern vehicles are designed with an increasing number of electronic components rangingfrom electronic control units, sensors and actuators, anti-lock breaking systems, and a host ofother applications, increasing the complexity of the overall system. Reliability, safety andmaintainability are among the three main areas of importance that need to be consideredwhen designing electrical systems for road vehicles. The various methods implemented forsystem analysis also need to be updated on a regular basis as the complexity of the electricalsystems implemented is ever increasing. One of the methods which is fast gainingimportance is the model-based approach for system analysis. Model-based methods providean easier way of system analysis through visual representations of physical components.Model-based methods are used for simulating, in a visual way, the desired behaviour of theelectrical systems as well as the failure behaviour of the electrical systems.

This master thesis mainly investigated the use of the model-based system-reasoning toolRODON during early design phases for system analysis. The thesis work has special focuson the usage of RODON tool for FMEA analysis and generation of diagnostic requirements,which need to be implemented in the target system. The capabilities of the RODON tool fordoing reliability analysis have also been investigated. Different models with varying levelsand techniques were developed to explore the results that can be achieved from the tool. Acomparative analysis of the reliability analysis results achieved through the tool-basedapproach was compared to the results achieved through manual based methods. The use ofRODON for various system analysis methods suggested in the upcoming functional safetystandard ISO26262was also explored.