Virtual Button and Graphical Interface System Safety Evaluation using System Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA)

Authors

  • Jesse Johnston General Motors
  • Mark Vernacchia General Motors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56094/jss.v56i2.21

Keywords:

STPA, STAMP, graphical interface, requirements

Abstract

System Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) is an extremely valuable methodology, especially when used early in a system’s concept phase, for effective and efficient development of safety requirements that address potential safety issues associated with human machine interactions.

This paper outlines how STPA can be used to explore potential safety concerns associated with interactions between human operators and virtual buttons within graphical interfaces across the planned operational scenarios and expected system behaviors. Appropriately validated system safety requirements can be developed based on this exploratory effort.

The paper shows how STPA includes drivers and operators as system elements within the control structure where these humans are expected to interact with a “system/feature of interest” by means of virtual buttons presented in a graphical interface. The inclusion of humans as elements of the control structure enables a representation of the human as a “human controller” and, as such, enables STPA evaluation techniques to be applied to them just as these techniques would be applied to any “control” element in a control structure.

Author Biographies

Jesse Johnston, General Motors

Jesse Johnston is a system safety engineer at General Motors working on safety assessments of GM’s global body control and infotainment systems, which includes evaluation of all applications of virtual controls replacing traditional physical controls. Jesse has a BS in electrical engineering from Purdue University.

Mark Vernacchia, General Motors

Mark A. Vernacchia is a GM Technical Fellow and is the principal system safety engineer for all GM propulsion systems worldwide. Mark has a BS in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and an MS in engineering sciences from Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute. Mark is a Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan.

References

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Sheehan, M. "Ignition Key - 2013 Dodge Dart Rallye" (Photograph), 2012, https://www.flickr.com/photos/hightechdad/8475491943/

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Article

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Published

2020-12-01

How to Cite

Johnston, J., & Vernacchia, M. (2020). Virtual Button and Graphical Interface System Safety Evaluation using System Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA). Journal of System Safety, 56(2), 27–36. https://doi.org/10.56094/jss.v56i2.21