NXP Semiconductors has unveiled the S32N55 processor, the first member of its S32N family of vehicle super-integration processors.
This processor, which forms the core of the S32 CoreRide central compute solution, offers a combination of safe, real-time and application processing capabilities, tailored to meet the central compute needs of auto makers.
The S32N55 processor has been designed for vehicle control applications requiring “demands high-performance, deterministic compute supporting the highest level of functional safety”, NXP says. Using software-defined, hardware-enforced isolation, it can accommodate vehicle functions with varying criticality levels, providing freedom from interference between them.
Key features of the automotive-grade S32N55 processor include integration of 16 split-lock Arm Cortex-R52 processor cores running at 1.2GHz for real-time compute; support for various functional safety levels up to ISO 26262 ASIL D; and firewalled Hardware Security Engine for secure boot, security services and key management.
With its “core-to-pin” hardware isolation and virtualization capabilities, NXP says the processor uses hardware-enforced isolation for the safe consolidation of ECUs, to simplify software development and support lifetime enhancements and upgrades.
Granular over-the-air (OTA) upgradeability enables independent software updates for vehicle functions, an essential function for software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
Ray Cornyn, senior vice president and general manager of automotive processors at NXP, said, “The S32N55 processor is the central brain for real-time vehicle control in our new S32 CoreRide platform.
“With a powerful combination of unrivaled real-time performance, critical hardware-enforced isolation and vehicle networking capabilities, it can deliver more functionality with fewer devices, while reducing costs, and offering upgradeability to help improve and future-proof vehicles.”