Degraded Operating Mode Definition
Objective
Ensure the system can operate in a defined degraded mode with reduced physical capability and risk when full capability is not assured.
Control / requirement
At least one degraded mode defined that reduces physical risk (lower speed/force/reach/autonomy), is independently enforceable, has defined entry/exit conditions, and does not rely on the compromised component for its own safe operation.
Applicability
Systems where immediate safe-stop is not always the safest response (vehicles in motion, drones in flight, collaborative robots mid-task).
Expected evidence
Degraded-mode specification and entry/exit criteria; architecture for independent enforcement; transition test records; validation that degraded mode is safe from worst-case entry states. [T2/T3]
Assurance expectation
Validated transitions from representative and worst- case operational states, not only nominal-state transitions.
Dependencies
PAI-SF-SAF-001 (degraded mode is a type of safe state); PAI-SF-ACT-001 (kinematic limits for enforcement).
Exclusions
Not applicable where any degradation creates unacceptable risk and only immediate safe-stop is appropriate.
Maturity / conformance relevance
Expected at Operational and High-Assurance levels; Foundational level expects at minimum a documented degradation strategy.
Ecosystem relationship
Extends GAISSF™ resilience controls to physical degradation. Provides degraded-mode incident classification for UAIF™. Defines degraded-mode management during AI-IRF™ incident response.