Fault tree analysis for technical systems

A method for fault tree analysis of a technical system, which includes a plurality of functional units, the technical system being modeled as a tree-like logical linkage of causative events, which may culminate in an undesirable event, and the causative events including malfunctions of individual functional units, a tree-like logical linkage having a self-similar structure being selected. An associated computer program is described. A surroundings detection system and/or a control system for an at least partially automated driving vehicle, including a plurality of functional units having mutual dependencies, which link the functional units in a tree-like structure in such a way that an undesirable event occurs if a logical linkage of causative events is true, the causative events including malfunctions of individual functional units, the tree-like structure being self-similar.