What is functional safety and why is it critical for ADAS?

Functional safety ensures systems do not cause unreasonable risk due to malfunction. ISO 26262 is the automotive functional safety standard. For ADAS: Systems must detect faults and respond safely (fail-safe or fail-operational); ASIL (Automotive Safety Integrity Level) ratings (A-D, D highest) define required rigor based on hazard severity, exposure, and controllability; safety mechanisms include redundancy, monitoring, and graceful degradation. ADAS failures could cause accidents, making functional safety critical. Examples: Steering assist must not suddenly jerk the wheel; AEB must not cause false braking. Development follows V-model with safety requirements, analysis (FMEA, FTA), testing, and validation.