In the safety design of autonomous driving systems, the system that senses, the failure of a single sensor can have catastrophic results. Therefore, the demands for core safety components have long been able to surpass conventional functionality and performance. DAISCH’s Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) products, as Inertial Measurement Unit critical components for position and attitude sensing of vehicles, have successfully obtained ISO 26262 ASIL-D level certification. This proves that DAISCH is not only capable of designing and producing high performance IMUs but also to create ultimate and reliable products and the highest safety integrity in the automotive industry.
What ISO 26262 ASIL D means?
ISO 26262 is the international functional safety standard for electrical/ electronic (E /E) systems in road vehicles. It defines a safety life-cycle process which covers concept, development, production, operation and de-commissioning. The ASIL levels are Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) – A(lowest), B, C and D(highest) levels, here we can see the level of risk. Achieving the ASIL D certification is carried out by the strictest safety analyses, redundant hardware architectures, fault-tolerant software, thorough verification and traceability, and independent audit of the complete development process. Products that are ratified to ASIL D are considered safe to use in safety-critical functions like braking, steering, airbag deployment, navigation, self driving functions, etc.
Why ASIL D is important for IMUs in autonomous driving?
IMUs enable a vehicle to provide the raw motion data (acceleration, angular rate, orientation) to an sensor-fusion algorithms to enable vehicle localization, trajectory planning and stability control. In higher levels of automated driving (L3-L5) a single IMU failure could cause vehicle pose-estimation knowledge loss – this could result in dangerous vehicle manoeuvres. ASIL D certification ensures that the OEM and Tier-1 suppliers know that the IMU hardware and the calibration software have been designed to be fault tolerant and therefore determinate in performance and meet documented safety goals throughout the life of the product.
The authoritative value ASIL D certification brings to DAISCH IMUs
- A trustworthy cornerstone for system safety: In the case of autonomous driving systems, if the signals from the cameras, LiDAR or GPS systems fail for any reason, the IMU becomes the last safety net for keeping the vehicle stable and safe to park. DAISCH IMUs with ASIL D certification means that the architecture has the most high level of the designed fault detection, diagnosis, and fault-tolerance mechanisms. This goes a long way to ensure erroneous signal outputs due to internal sensor faults will be prevented and the safety of the vehicle even in extreme conditions will be ensured.
- Safety assurance during the entire lifecycle: This is a certification that is not taken up during the design phase only at the end where it covers the entire life of the product involving its manufacture and production. It is a proof of how DAISCH has recognised the need for a functional safety management system that ensures a strict control of utmost importance over every stage, from chip procurement, production processes to final testing. This ensures that all IMUs coming out of the production line are up to the strict standards of ASIL D that provide perfect unity of safety and quality.
- A good credential for performing top-tier collaboration service: In case of projects aiming at Level 3 and up autonomous driving, OEMs even impose mandatory requirements on the functional safety aspects for their supply chains. DAISCH IMU’s ASIL D certification is one of the main qualifications to compete in the future of advanced autonomous driving. It sounds a clear message to all partners: DAISCH has the authoritative ability to develop and mass-produce products according to the world’s highest safety requirements.