The introduction of more intelligence into vehicle control systems increase functionality but at the same time threatens to overload the driver. A second and potentially more serious effect is that the driver's understanding of how the vehicle is behaving may be incorrect. The user interface may have the capacity to misrepresent important information. The Safety analysis of User System Interaction (SUSI) methodology devised to assess hazard driving system is directed towards this problem. SUSI exploits modem software design methods to represent human and machine behaviour in a unform context. A form of HAZard and OPerability study (HAZOP) is then used to draw out potential hazards from which risk which risk assessment and risk mitigation actions can be developed. SUSI has been applied in the automotive environment and has shown its utility at various stages of the design process. (A)
Abstract