Dr. Thomas Wiltschko, Manager for Safety of ADAS & AD at Mercedes-Benz AG, is a member of the Safetronic Program Committee, the international conference for the holistic safety of road vehicles. As an internationally recognized expert on ISO 26262 and ISO/TS 5083, he explains in the interview why the interplay of safety standards is essential for a holistic assessment and what opportunities the use of artificial intelligence opens up for the development of safe driver assistance systems.
July 9, 2026
© Fraunhofer IKS
H. T. Hengl:
What are the requirements for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)?
Thomas Wiltschko:
Customers expect increasing automation and a steady expansion of the functions offered by modern driver assistance systems. High availability and reliability, as well as ease of use and customization of these systems, are of particular importance. These aspects are also a top priority in development at Mercedes-Benz, as they are central to our primary goal: creating added value for our customers. However, modern driver assistance systems not only enhance driving comfort and reduce the driver’s workload but are also intended to help improve road safety. Safety is essential for the acceptance of these systems by the general public. To this end, strict compliance with legal regulations, relevant standards, and industry standards is requisite.
H. T. Hengl:
Is it difficult to meet these requirements?
Thomas Wiltschko:
It is certainly a challenging task. Given the complexity of modern driver-assistance systems, the high level of connectivity within the vehicle, distributed development, and the rapid pace of innovation, we need people with a high level of expertise, creativity, and team spirit. Only in this way can we successfully translate the requirements of standards and regulations into a safe product that also delivers adequate customer experience.
H. T. Hengl:
Where do you currently see the biggest challenges and which approaches do you think are promising?
Thomas Wiltschko:
I prefer to speak of challenges and opportunities. There are three things I would like to highlight in this context. First, the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in development offers entirely new possibilities. Standards such as ISO/PAS 8800 Safety for AI provide initial approaches to the question of how to demonstrate safety. Second, a holistic assessment of safety is important, and ISO/TS 5083 Safety for ADS, with its Risk Acceptance Criteria, provides valuable guidance in this regard. Third, the rapid pace of development and innovation requires tailored and efficient development, validation, and release processes to support continuous incremental updates.
© Mercedes
Thomas Wiltschko is an international expert for ISO 26262 (ISO/TC 22/SC 32/WG 8) and ISO/TS 5083 - Safety for ADS (ISO/TC 22/SC 32/WG 13) with over 20 years of experience in the domain of safety for driver assistance systems. Since 2016, he has been responsible as Manager for the functional safety of the Driver Assistance Packages of Mercedes-Benz AG.
H. T. Hengl:
What are your expectations regarding ADAS for Safetronic 2026?
Thomas Wiltschko:
For Safetronic 2026, I’m looking forward to practical examples and interesting discussions, particularly regarding the use of artificial intelligence and the development of highly available systems. I hope to gain valuable insights into the efficient development and verification of the safety of driver assistance systems, so that we can address the current opportunities and potential challenges in this field.
H. T. Hengl:
What are the reasons you are involved in the Safetronic Program Committee?
Thomas Wiltschko:
I first attended Safetronic in 2009 and have had the opportunity to give a presentation there three times in the past. I particularly appreciate Safetronic for its outstanding quality, its clear focus on safety, and the valuable exchange with experts. As a member of the program committee, it is a pleasure for me to now be able to actively contribute to shaping and organizing Safetronic.
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H. T. Hengl:
You are active on the ISO/TS 5083 standards committee, which deals with safety for automated driving systems, particularly design, verification, and validation. In addition to an update on ISO/TS 5083, the standards session at Safetronic 2026 will also cover ISO 26262, ISO/PAS 21448, and ISO/PAS 8800. What does the interplay of these standards mean to you in the context of a holistic safety assessment?
Thomas Wiltschko:
This interplay is of central importance. Each standard has its own specific focus and addresses different aspects of safety. Therefore, the overlaps and interdependencies between the various safety standards must be identified and implemented in an integrated approach for practical application, to provide a complete safety case without duplication of effort.
