Real-time control of safety-critical applications has been a long time challenge for engineers. Automotive and industrial application functions are becoming more complex, and industry standards require more sophisticated functional safety concepts. Learn more about how functional safety requirements are changing the design game, the details behind Freescale's SafeAssure program and the hardware solutions targeting safety applications.


The automotive industry is under pressure to provide new and improved vehicle safety systems, ranging from basic airbag-deployment systems to extremely complex advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) with accident prediction and avoidance capabilities. These safety functions are increasingly carried out by electronics.


Recent industrial disasters have highlighted the need for improved safety, and an increasing number of industrial control systems are requiring IEC 61508 safety certification. Functional safety is also becoming more prevalent and stringent in markets such as solar energy and aviation, as well as FDA Class III medical. Electronics in industrial markets typically must operate with minimal faults in harsh environments.