Model-based Concept Development and Safety Driven Design

This paper outlines a new approach for safety-driven concept development based on the systems-theoretic accident model and process. Compared to traditional approaches, this model captures more types of accident causes prevalent in modern systems. In addition, the model emphasizes functional behavior in addition to physical behavior, which makes it a promising candidate for use during early system development stages. The new approach represents an extension of the accident causality model that allows stakeholders to systematically develop a model of a concept and then query the model to identify potential vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies.