Part of Freescale’s SafeAssure functional safety program, the S32V microprocessor is structurally designed to comply with ISO 26262 functional safety standards, and engineered for automotive-grade quality metrics measured in parts per billion.

This reliability, together with the performance/power ratios of integrated second-generation CogniVue APEX Image Cognition Processing technology, additionally supports the fusion of vision data captured by the S32V device with multiple other data streams, including radar, LiDAR and ultrasonic information to enable optimal resolution and image recognition accuracy.

The next step in the evolution of self-driving cars will rely on automated systems that accurately process information, make decisions and take the requisite actions. This requires the highest levels of reliability, which are rarely present in consumer-grade silicon. The essential requirement for fail-safe reliability cannot be achieved using consumer-grade silicon without significant costs in system power or form factor.

—Luca De Ambroggi, Principal Analyst, Automotive Semiconductors for analyst firm IHS

The S32V leverages Freescale’s decades-long track record of delivering ultra-reliable processors to the quality-driven automotive market. The microprocessor’s safety stems from structural, automotive-grade technologies and techniques that assure optimal reliability. Redundant signal paths, software error checking functionality, hardware fault detection and hard partitioning of on-chip processing domains allow the system to safely shut down and perform a controlled reboot without compromising braking or steering.

The S32V also features secure boot, network-grade crypto engines, secure keys, and support for secure hardware extension specifications published by many of the world’s top automakers. With this level of security, the S32V helps protect against theft of software algorithms and other IP, while enhancing overall vehicle safety by helping to prevent external attacks and unauthorized access to vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

Discrete encryption domains provide an added layer of protection within the car’s network. If hackers gain access to one node of the car’s system, they cannot access other nodes; hence attacks are effectively isolated and quarantined.

Many automotive vision systems available today are based on consumer-oriented silicon solutions originally designed to enhance gaming graphics or run smartphone apps. But in a new era where cars will serve as trusted co-pilots, utilizing consumer-oriented silicon is fundamentally unwise. Relying on anything less than automotive-grade silicon to take control of a vehicle and make critical driving decisions is simply not acceptable.

—Bob Conrad, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Automotive MCUs for Freescale

The S32V vision microprocessor integrates robust hardware including high-performance CogniVue APEX-642 core image processing technology, as well as four ARM Cortex-A53 cores.

The S32V’s software platform includes Green Hills Software’s INTEGRITY—a safety-certified, real-time operating system (RTOS) including a powerful set of ISO 26262, ASIL-D certified development tools with highly optimized target solutions. The platform also includes Neusoft Corporation’s advanced, real-time object recognition algorithms to seamlessly detect partial objects, allowing the S32V to interpret and distinguish between road hazards and pedestrian risk.

Full market availability for the S32V is expected in July 2015.