The DreamCar module constantly updates and displays the price of the current configuration. Registered customers with validated ID can order a vehicle online.
Once a customer clicks the Order button and enters their PIN, the vehicle is ordered and the purchase committed. Once the statutory revocation deadline has passed, the chosen configuration is automatically passed on to the production management system that initiates the build process.
Because the online purchase process is binding, if the system calculates and displays an incorrect price the customer has the right to insist on the paying that price. This means that wrongly calculated prices could lead to the manufacturer selling thousands of cars at prices that are too low. Depending on the degree of miscalculation, this could lead to millions of dollars in losses. Having each purchase order checked manually is not an option, as the whole point of the VSR-II system is that vehicles can be ordered completely automatically online.
Defining test thoroughness and scope depending on risk factors
Systems or system parts with a high risk have to be tested more extensively than those that do not cause major damage in case of failure.6 Risk assessment has to be carried out for the individual system parts or even for individual failure modes. If there is a high risk of a system or subsystem malfunctioning, the test requires more effort than for less critical (sub) systems. These procedures are defined through international standards for the production of safety-critical systems. For example, the [RTC-DO 178B] Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification standard prescribes complex testing procedures for aviation systems.
Although there are no material risks involved, a computer game that saves scores incorrectly can be costly for its manufacturer, as such faults affect the public acceptance of a game and its parent company’s other products, and can lead to lost sales and damage to the company’s reputation.
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