Safety Critical Systems
Safety Critical Systems are systems whose failure could result in loss of life, significant property damage, or environmental harm. They are designed with rigorous engineering processes to ensure high reliability, fault tolerance, and predictable behavior under all conditions. Examples include medical devices, aerospace systems, nuclear power controls, and automotive braking systems.
Developers should learn about Safety Critical Systems when working in industries where system failures have severe consequences, such as healthcare, transportation, energy, or industrial automation. Understanding this concept is crucial for implementing safety standards like ISO 26262 (automotive) or DO-178C (aerospace), designing fault-tolerant architectures, and conducting hazard analysis to mitigate risks in life-critical applications.