Fault Tree Analysis applied to an Autonomous Drone System

The use of autonomous drones has grown significantly in recent years in both civil and military applications . From infrastructure inspection to rescue missions, including large-scale deployments in conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, these systems are now engaged in critical missions where autonomy and reliability are essential.

In this context, anticipating failures and controlling risks have become key challenges . Engineers are increasingly relying on structured methodologies from the field of operational safety to identify feared scenarios and ensure mission continuity. Among these, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) provides a logical framework for exploring combinations of events leading to the loss of a drone.

The article presents a detailed study of this method, applied to a simplified autonomous drone system. The aim is to introduce engineering students to practical safety assessment tools, combining static modeling and logical reasoning. The case study was deliberately designed to be educational, analytically manageable, and transferable to complex aeronautical scenarios.