Understanding ASIL classification and AEC-Q100 standards for automotive safety

November 14, 2024

In the fast-evolving automotive industry, the role of electronics has grown significantly, supporting systems from braking and steering to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and infotainment. This increasing reliance on electronics brings with it stringent safety and reliability requirements. Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) and AEC-Q100 are two key classifications that guide the design, testing, and verification processes for automotive electronic components. In this article, we’ll dive into what these standards entail and how Move-X expertise and tools, like the Spaceman Electronic Design Automation (EDA) platform, support our partners in meeting these crucial requirements.

What is ASIL? An Overview of ISO 26262 safety classification

The Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) is part of the ISO 26262 standard, which establishes functional safety for road vehicles. Introduced as a risk-based classification, ASIL aims to assess and mitigate hazards that could arise from electronic malfunctions in vehicles. The standard defines four ASIL levels, from ASIL-D (highest risk) to ASIL-A (lowest risk), based on three main parameters.

Severity: how severe would the consequences of the failure be on vehicle safety?

Exposure: how likely is it that this failure mode would be encountered?

Controllability: to what extent can the driver manage the vehicle in case of this failure?

For instance, a braking system failure might be classified as ASIL-D due to its direct impact on safety, while a taillight failure, with less critical implications, might be ASIL-A. Each ASIL level has corresponding design and validation requirements to ensure that potential risks are managed appropriately. For high-risk classifications like ASIL-D, manufacturers must integrate more extensive fail-safe mechanisms, diagnostics, and redundancies.

Meeting ASIL requirements: Move-X approach

For companies developing ICs for the automotive sector, achieving ASIL compliance is a critical and detailed process. Move-X supports clients by providing expert design services that integrate ASIL requirements throughout each phase of the IC development cycle, including the following.

Risk assessment: we conduct thorough risk evaluations based on ISO 26262 parameters to classify ASIL levels and determine the specific needs of each component.

System design and verification: Move-X Spaceman EDA platform facilitates rapid yet precise design iterations, allowing our engineers to address functional safety requirements more efficiently.

Built-in diagnostics and redundancy: for higher ASIL levels, our design services incorporate diagnostics and redundancy measures to manage potential failures.

Our experience across a variety of applications, from power management systems to ADAS, enables us to assist in developing solutions that comply with ASIL requirements, meeting the highest standards of safety and performance.

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What is AEC-Q100? Ensuring reliability in automotive ICs

Beyond functional safety, automotive ICs must also meet stringent reliability requirements to withstand the rigors of automotive environments. The Automotive Electronics Council (AEC) established the AEC-Q100 standard to outline testing protocols that qualify ICs for automotive use. This standard evaluates the IC robustness under a wide range of stressors, including extreme temperatures, vibration, and electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Key testing standards in AEC-Q100 qualification

The AEC-Q100 standard divides its qualifications into four grades based on temperature range, from Grade 3 to Grade 0, as follows.

Grade 3: -40°C to 85°C

Grade 2: -40°C to 105°C

Grade 1: -40°C to 125°C

Grade 0: -40°C to 150°C

Higher-grade requirements, such as Grade 0, are crucial for components exposed to high heat, such as those near engines. To achieve these qualifications, ICs undergo rigorous tests, including the following.

Thermal stress testing: ensures that the IC can handle temperature fluctuations without compromising performance.

Fault simulation: identifies potential failure modes to design systems that can safely manage them.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing: protects against the buildup of electrostatic charge.

Early life and lifetime reliability testing: simulates wear and tear over an extended period to assess long-term reliability.

At Move-X, we incorporate AEC-Q100 qualification standards into our design services to develop automotive-grade ICs that meet all required reliability tests, while our Spaceman EDA platform provides simulations that streamline the testing and verification processes, ensuring that every design reaches high standards for resilience and durability.

ASIL and AEC-Q100 compliance: a dual approach to safety and reliability

In the automotive industry, ASIL and AEC-Q100 work in tandem to ensure that ICs perform not only reliably but also safely. Where ASIL focuses on functionality and risk mitigation, AEC-Q100 addresses durability and robustness against environmental and operational stresses. Move-X approach unites these two standards into a seamless workflow, with our team experienced in navigating both requirements to develop ICs that meet industry-leading safety and reliability benchmarks.

The Move-X advantage: accelerating design for automotive applications

Designing ICs that are ASIL-compliant and meet AEC-Q100 standards requires a nuanced understanding of both safety and reliability in automotive contexts. With extensive experience in automotive electronic design, Move-X offers specialized services that cover every phase of development:

Comprehensive design services: our team guides partners from initial concept through final testing, focusing on creating ICs optimized for both ASIL and AEC-Q100 compliance.

Spaceman EDA platform: by integrating state-of-the-art design automation into our workflow, we empower our clients to innovate faster and reduce time-to-market while maintaining rigorous safety and reliability standards.

As automotive technology continues to advance, the role of ICs becomes even more critical. By combining our expertise in ASIL-compliant design with robust AEC-Q100 qualification protocols, Move-X remains committed to driving innovation and reliability in automotive electronics.

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