How is ISO 26262 applied to automotive system development?

ISO 26262 is the functional safety standard for automotive E/E systems. Key processes: Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment (HARA) determines Automotive Safety Integrity Levels (ASIL A-D), Safety goals define top-level safety requirements, Functional Safety Concept allocates safety mechanisms, Technical Safety Concept defines implementation (hardware/software), Hardware metrics (SPFM, LFM, PMHF) quantify random failure coverage, Software follows V-model with ASIL-dependent rigor, and Safety validation confirms goal achievement. For ADAS/AD, ASIL-D typically applies to steering, braking actuators. Design patterns include redundancy, monitoring, safe states, and fault tolerance. Certification requires documented safety case and assessment.