Functional Safety
Functional safety is a system-level concept that ensures safety-critical systems operate correctly in response to inputs, preventing hazardous failures that could cause harm to people, property, or the environment. It involves systematic processes, standards, and techniques to manage risks throughout a product's lifecycle, from design to decommissioning. This is particularly vital in industries like automotive, aerospace, medical devices, and industrial automation where failures can have severe consequences.
Developers should learn functional safety when working on safety-critical systems in regulated industries, such as automotive (e.g., autonomous vehicles), aerospace, or medical devices, to ensure compliance with standards like ISO 26262 or IEC 61508 and mitigate legal and safety risks. It is essential for roles involving embedded systems, real-time software, or hardware design where reliability and fault tolerance are paramount, helping to prevent accidents and enhance product trustworthiness.