Arnold NextG Focuses on Safety and Cybersecurity for Autonomous Systems

Arnold NextG GmbH has detailed its approach to building trust in autonomous systems by focusing on safety, redundancy, and cybersecurity. The company asserts that true trust is achieved through reliability and resilience, especially crucial for systems operating without human oversight.

According to Arnold NextG, every component, from steering systems to software, must be designed to either prevent failure or fail safely. The company's NX NextMotion system has been developed to meet ASIL D / SIL 3 standards, representing the highest levels of safety under ISO 26262 and ISO 61508. This reflects a proactive design philosophy aimed at ensuring continued functionality even in the event of system errors.

Functional safety ensures that systems react predictably and harmlessly during failures. This includes adherence to standards such as ISO 26262 for electrical and electronic automotive systems, SOTIF (ISO/PAS 21448) which addresses the safety of intended functionality under various conditions (like sensor performance in adverse weather), and UL 4600 for demonstrating the safety of fully autonomous systems that do not rely on human intervention.

Redundancy is presented as a cornerstone of safe autonomy. This involves implementing dual or triple control systems (multiple ECUs, sensors, power sources), watchdog monitoring mechanisms, and fallback protocols for steering, braking, or emergency stops. Arnold NextG's Drive-by-Wire components are physically and logically separated to prevent a single fault from affecting both systems, thereby maintaining operational safety.

The company concludes that autonomy without safety is merely risk. Therefore, robust safety measures are presented as foundational for building the necessary trust for the widespread adoption of autonomous technologies.