Software interlock

A vehicle control system comprising:

• a first system component;
• and
• an interlock component;
• wherein the first system component comprises a proxy component and a stub component interface;
• wherein a second system component is arranged to send interaction requests to the first system component via the proxy component of the first system component;
• wherein the first system component is in operative communication with a first vehicle system and each interaction request comprises a control signal for controlling the first vehicle system;
• wherein the stub component is arranged to receive the interaction requests from the proxy component and forwards the interaction requests to the interlock component;
• wherein the interlock component comprises:
• an input for receiving the interaction requests for the first system component from the stub component and system data;
• a processor arranged to assess each interaction request and the system data relative to predefined system logic rules to determine if the interaction request satisfies the system logic rules;
• and
• an output arranged to cause the interaction request to be forwarded to the first system component in the event that the system logic rules are satisfied, wherein the output is further arranged to not cause the interaction request to be forwarded to the first system component in the event that the system logic rules are not satisfied.