AI-Enhanced Functional Safety in ADAS Controllers: Predictive Fault Management under ISO 26262

Ensuring ISO 26262 functional safety in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) is increasingly complex as these platforms adopt artificial intelligence for perception and control. Traditional safety mechanisms are deterministic, but AI introduces non-determinism that challenges verification and validation. This paper presents a predictive fault management framework that enhances functional safety in ADAS controllers using AI-driven models. Real-time vehicle and sensor data are processed through machine learning algorithms that forecast hardware and software faults before they escalate into hazardous conditions. These predictive insights are coupled with ISO 26262 safety mechanisms to enable adaptive diagnostics, fault isolation, and recovery strategies. Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) validation demonstrates up to a 25% improvement in diagnostic coverage compared to conventional monitoring, while maintaining ASIL-D compliance and real-time performance. By showing how AI can complement functional safety principles instead of conflicting with them, this work provides OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers with a roadmap for deploying intelligent ADAS controllers that are certifiable under ISO 26262.