Safety evaluation of autonomous vehicles in real traffic

Abstract

This thesis proposes an approach to evaluate the safety of autonomous vehicles in real traffic by using Causal Loop Diagrams from System Dynamic theory from a previous System-Theoretic Process Analysis. The Causal Loop Diagram allows the user to model behavioural relationships among various components of the system. A case study has been implemented where an intersection between mixed traffic and autonomous vehicles was analyzed. Risks were analyzed with causal relations that were modelled in Causal Loop Diagrams. The practice of combining STPA and SD consolidates it as a potential framework to analyse the safety of autonomous vehicles in complex traffic and can be applied in other areas.

Outgoing