Surya Kopparthi on Functional Safety Engineering at TÜV SÜD

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With a legacy spanning over a century in vehicle safety testing and certification, TÜV SÜD stands as the trusted partner for OEMs, automotive suppliers, government and transport authorities, car dealers, leasing, and fleet companies. We offer a comprehensive suite of mobility services, ensuring your product meets the highest automotive safety and quality standards.

Meet our Americas Mobility team, dedicated to servicing you. Our service portfolio encompasses the testing of vehicles, systems, and components, ISO 26262 functional safety, and international homologation, streamlining global access to key automotive markets. As your innovative solutions provider, we actively contribute to the development of safety regulations and standards, along with efficient automotive testing solutions, driving the future of mobility, including emissions testing technologies, autonomous and connected driving, e-mobility, and shared mobility.

Navigating the Autonomous Road: Understanding Legislation, Regulations, and Standards

Surya Kopparthi, Functional Safety Engineer at TÜV SÜD

Safety and Security of automated road vehicles is very important and the scaling of such technologies to a larger extent would need to be done diligently. My role puts me in that space, where I could contribute to improving safety and security of Autonomous Vehicle (AV) deployment which would ultimately need to be accepted by society.  

As a Functional Safety (FuSa) Engineer, I am involved in developing and executing services related to third-party Functional Safety Assessments for the development of Autonomous Vehicles and ensuring compliance with industry standards like ISO 26262 and ISO 21448. FuSa engineers also review compliance of AV specific safety cases against UL 4600, as well as executing process compliance checks against AV industry best practices like AVSC and SAE. Finally, we offer Process & Product certification schemes against ISO & UL standards that are related to AV’s including but not limited to FuSa, Cybersecurity and overall AV safety.  

My motivation within this field of work stems from an early passion for automobiles and their complex engineering. This led me to complete my Bachelor’s Degree in Automotive Engineering and Master’s Degree in Quality & Industrial Engineering. I then started my professional career with Automotive Quality and Process Engineering, where I got intrigued with the topic of safety of autonomous driving. My expertise in this role is rooted in three key things. The first is strong quality, safety and process thinking. Next would be early exposure to safety assessments of such technologies at TÜV SÜD. Finally, I have an advanced understanding of laws and regulations around the globe. 

TÜV SÜD's EXPERTISE IN AUTOMOTIVE AND MOBILITY TESTING

At TÜV SÜD, we stay up to date with the latest regulatory changes and requirements in the automotive industry through various means. Primarily, through collaboration with our overseas offices, extensive research, maintain effective communication channels with colleges and professional networks. The European region at times can be easier to find upcoming changes versus the United States.

TÜV SÜD currently has two engineers that are members of the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) lighting committee and will collaborate with other industry peers to stay informed. We monitor recall lists and determine missteps by manufacturers, this can also help gain insight into governmental expectations. These efforts ensure TÜV SÜD America remains abreast of evolving regulations, promoting safety and compliance.

Homologation experts are vital for navigating the complexities of different regulatory frameworks and achieving compliance. To find more information please check out our latest updates here.

Choose TÜV SÜD for a future of mobility that prioritizes safety, quality, and innovation. Let's drive together towards a secure and sustainable automotive future.