Consistency Measurement as a Means to Enhance Reliability in Autonomous Systems

Reliability is the ability of a system to perform its intended function accurately and safely over time and across diverse conditions. In autonomous systems, it is important because it ensures that these systems function consistently, safely, and effectively in diverse and dynamic environments. Reliability is helpful in improving operational efficiency, robustness and regulatory compliance, which in turn improves economic viability. Various metrics can be used to assess a system’s reliability, including failure rate, availability, mean time between failures, critical failure rate, etc. However, these metrics focus on evaluating the overall reliability of the system. This paper presents the concept of measuring consistency at various levels within an autonomous system and leveraging those measurements to iteratively enhance consistency, thereby improving overall reliability.