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Arm adds virtual devices and launches Cortex-M85 processor

Wed, Apr 27, 2022

In addition to expanding Arm Virtual Hardware, Arm launches the Arm Cortex-M85 processor, describing it as the high performing and most secure Cortex-M to date.

The Arm Total Solution for Cloud Native Edge Devices is the first designed for Cortex-A and based on Corstone-1000.

(Arm Total Solutions for IoT combines hardware IP, platform software, machine learning (ML) models and tools collated to simplify development and accelerate product design. The Arm Corstone is a pre-integrated, pre-verified IP sub-system.)

According to Arm, this version for cloud native edge devices makes the power and potential of platform OS like Linux available to IoT developers. It allows application-class workloads to be developed for smart wearables, gateways and high-end smart cameras.

The Corstone-1000 is Arm SystemReady-IR compliant and features a hardware secure enclave that supports PSA Certified for a higher level of security. According to Arm, OEMs can immediately enjoy the benefits of Project Cassini.

The new Total Solution for Voice Recognition is based on the Corstone-310 sub-system. It is pre-integrated with the new Cortex-M85 and the Arm Ethos-U55 and is Arm’s highest ever performance microcontroller-based design, said the company. Target applications range from smart speakers and thermostats to drones and factory robots. Developers can also take the Corstone-310 and create additional products by combining it with different reference software, advised Arm.

The other announcement is the launch of the Arm Cortex-M85. This is a natural architectural upgrade path to Armv8-M for applications requiring significantly higher performance, said the company.

It offers a 30 per cent scalar performance uplift, compared to the Cortex-M7 and includes Arm Helium technology to support endpoint ML and DSP workloads, In addition to Arm TrustZone technology, security features include Pointer Authentication and Branch Target Identification (PACBTI). This is a new architectural feature with enhanced software attack threat mitigation to help achieve PSA Certified Level 2. According to Arm, this is a security baseline for IoT deployments.

There are also several new Arm Virtual Hardware virtual devices, including Arm Virtual Hardware for the new Corstone designs as well as seven new Cortex-M processors ranging from Cortex-M0 to Cortex-M33. Arm is also expanding the library with third party hardware from partners including NXP, ST Microelectronics and Raspberry Pi.

Arm Cortex-M85, Corstone-310 and Corstone-1000 are available for licensing now and can be accessed immediately in the cloud as part of Arm Total Solutions for IoT.

Arm Virtual Hardware can be accessed at https://avh.arm.com. Third party hardware is available from partners including NXP (iMX8 Arm Cortex Complex), ST Microelectronics (STM32U5 Discovery Kit) and Raspberry Pi (RPi4).

http://www.arm.com

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GNSS time server meet environmental standards

Wed, Apr 27, 2022

In response to the need for secure, precise timing and synchronisation in power plants and sub-stations’ communications networks, Microchip Technology has introduced the GridTime 3000 GNSS time server. The software-configurable server provides redundancy, security and resilience, says the company to ensure networks transmit critical data including operability metrics, network health, fault monitoring, power measurement and usage trends without false tripping and with data timestamping including system faults, power measurements and substation status.

“Surges, adverse weather and cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure all require resilient timing architectures and technology to mitigate the threats and ensure continuous timing,” said Randy Brudzinski, vice president, Microchip’s frequency and time systems business unit.

The GridTime 3000 system generates time and frequency signals to synchronise analogue and digital communication systems. This resilient timing platform incorporates multiple timing inputs for protection in the event of a signal disruption caused by severe weather, environmental disturbances or signal jamming or spoofing. Three levels of internal holdover options are available including a base voltage-controlled temperature compensated crystal oscillator (VCTCXO) and an optional high-performance oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) or rubidium oscillator option to extend holdover duration and enhance performance.

The time server complies with IEC 61850-3, the environmental component of IEC 61850, the standard that defines communication protocols for power substations. It is also compliant with IEEE 1613-2009, for environmental and testing requirements for power substations.

A hardware-based cryptographic assurance module uses industry-standard Rivest, Shamir and Adleman (RSA)- and AES-based encryption to protect against unauthorised configuration uploads.

The GridTime 3000 server has a licensed feature model, enabling clients to upgrade system technology as needed. There are 10 1000BASE-T Ethernet (1Gbits per second) ports for high speed synchronisation using precision time protocol (PTP) and network time protocol (NTP).

Microchip’s GridTime 3000 GNSS time server includes an internal web browser management interface, clock management tool (CMT). The CMT provides configuration and management for remote managing and monitoring, together with accessories including a multi-band, multi-constellation GNSS receiver system and cold-swappable power supplies.

The GridTime 3000 GNSS time server is available now in volume production.

http://www.microchip.com

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Automotive ECU virtualisation ensures multi-zone use

Wed, Apr 27, 2022

Designers can integrate multiple applications into a single engine control unit (ECU) in automotive systems using the Renesas ECU virtualisation platform. Each application can be safely and securely separated to avoid interference. Customers can therefore adopt new electrical-electronic (E/E) architectures using microcontroller-based zone ECUs which support multiple logical ECUs on one physical ECU.

The ECU virtualisation platform combines Renesas’ RH850/U2x microcontrollers and ETAS’ RTA-HVR software, which is a hypervisor designed for microcontrollers with hardware virtualisation support. A demonstrator environment comprises pre-configured embedded software, tools and an interactive demonstrator environment for RH850/U2x microcontrollers.

Reflecting on the move towards zone architecture, Satoshi Yoshida, senior director, Automotive Digital Products marketing at Renesas, said: “The transition . . . increases the design burden by changing the functional role assignments between the central ECU and each zone ECU”.

“Working together with Renesas, we were able to leverage the [hardware] capabilities of the RH850/U2x [microcontrollers] to deliver a high performance, low overhead, embedded hypervisor for automotive applications that complements class-leading AUTOSAR OS technologies,” added Nigel Tracey, vice president of Vehicle Operating Systems at ETAS.

The RH850/U2x microcontrollers including RH850/U2A and RH850/U2B have a set of embedded hardware that realises the integration of multiple ASIL D-compliant software partitions. The microcontrollers are specifically designed for zone-applications targeting reduced ECU component count with minimal re-engineering overhead, explained Renesas. RH850/U2x microcontrollers include features such as hypervisor hardware support, quality of service (RH850/U2B only) support, safety and security functions and a network on chip (NoC) structure to ensure proper real-time behaviour of the individual integrated applications.

The RTA-HVR software works with the hardware virtualisation features of the Renesas RH850U2x microcontrollers to provide one or more virtual machines (VMs). VMs are separated from each other in both space (using the RH850U2x memory protection unit and guard features) and time (using the RTA-HVR VM scheduler) to meet strict automotive safety and security requirements. The RTA-HVR can build a virtual device extension (VDE). Each VM comprises one or more virtual CPU cores, a sub-set of device memory space and a collection of peripherals.

Renesas offers the RH850/U2x Zone-ECU starter kit which provides a “ready to run” configuration of RTA-HVR, showcasing VM configurations which can be single core, multi-core and multi-VM core configurations. Guest software images are provided for each of the configured VMs, including bare metal. Virtual devices are available for peripheral sharing and virtual inter-VM networking; a virtual CAN or controller area network, says Renesas.

A PC-hosted application enables users to observe and interact with the VMs at runtime. The PC application supports triggering faults to explore behaviours as a result of memory violations, for example. It can also update one VM while the other VMs are running using the no-wait OTA capabilities of the RH850/U2x. Other functions are to explore the impact of alternative VM switching mechanisms and enabling developers to see the impact of hardware quality of service features.

The ECU virtualisation software platform, including the RH850/U2x Zone-ECU starter kit will be available from the end of May 2022.

http://www.renesas.com

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Tasking extends the VX-toolset for Arm with Traveo T2G support

Wed, Apr 20, 2022

Version 6.0r1 of the VX-Toolset compiler toolchain for Arm Cortex-M also supports Infineon’s Traveo T2G microcontroller family.

The Traveo T2G microcontroller family is based on Arm’s Cortex-M4 / Cortex-M7. Infineon and Tasking have worked on software development tools for TriCore/Aurix (TC2x, TC3x and TC4x) and now with support for the Traveo T2G family, Tasking offers toolchains for Infineon’s entire microcontroller portfolio. Having compilers for both Traveo T2G and Aurix available from a single tool partner simplifies the work of users who use both microcontrollers.

The VX-Toolset for Arm Cortex-M is qualified according to ISO 26262 up to ASIL D. TÜV certification is planned for this year.

Tasking supplies a safety manual with the toolchain. As long as users follow the recommendations described there, they can use the toolchain for the development of safety-critical applications up to ASIL D without any further qualification measures, advises the company. This significantly simplifies and accelerates the certification of the system and reduces costs for the customer, says Tasking.

The VX-toolset for Arm Cortex-M v6.0r1 is available immediately.

Tasking Germany specialises in providing embedded software development tools. The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Tasking development tools are used by automotive manufacturers and the world’s largest Tier 1 supplier to realise high-performance applications in safety critical areas. The tools are used to develop the latest applications to optimum reliability, functional safety and performance standards.

http://www.tasking.com

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Arm adds virtual devices and launches Cortex-M85 processor

GNSS time server meet environmental standards

Automotive ECU virtualisation ensures multi-zone use

Tasking extends the VX-toolset for Arm with Traveo T2G support

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