Renesas Electronics Corporation has launched its latest innovation in the automotive semiconductor space: the fifth-generation R-Car X5H system-on-chip (SoC). Designed with 3-nanometer (nm) process technology, the R-Car X5H represents the industry’s first automotive multi-domain SoC built on such an advanced node. This SoC is set to redefine the capabilities of centralized electronic/electrical (E/E) architecture, supporting a range of automotive functions, from advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and gateway applications, all within a single chip.
The R-Car X5H SoC brings unprecedented levels of integration and performance, addressing the growing demand for efficient, powerful, and flexible compute solutions in software-defined vehicles (SDVs). With hardware-based isolation, chiplet extension capability, and extensive AI and graphics processing power, this new SoC series offers automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier-1 suppliers a comprehensive platform for tackling the complexity of modern vehicle design and functionality.
Unmatched Processing Power and Efficiency
The R-Car X5H delivers AI acceleration of up to 400 TOPS (trillion operations per second) and GPU performance up to 4 TFLOPS, ensuring the SoC can handle demanding tasks in automated driving and infotainment. Featuring 32 Arm Cortex-A720AE CPU cores and six Arm Cortex-R52 dual lockstep CPU cores, this SoC achieves over 1,000K DMIPS for applications and more than 60K DMIPS for real-time processing. Manufactured using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) 3-nm automotive-grade process, the SoC achieves 30-35% lower power consumption than its 5-nm counterparts. This significant efficiency enhancement not only lowers overall system costs but also extends vehicle range by reducing the need for additional cooling.
Chiplet Extensions for Enhanced Flexibility
A unique feature of the R-Car X5H is its support for chiplet extensions, allowing OEMs to add AI and graphics processing power as needed. Through the Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express (UCle), the SoC can integrate seamlessly with external processors, enabling AI performance scaling up to three or four times the native 400 TOPS. This flexibility provides OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers with customizable options to meet evolving vehicle demands, offering scalability for future performance upgrades across diverse vehicle platforms.
Robust Security with Mixed-Criticality Processing
In the automotive industry, safety remains paramount. The R-Car X5H uses hardware-based Freedom from Interference (FFI) technology to securely isolate critical safety functions, such as brake-by-wire, from other non-critical operations. This mixed-criticality processing enables secure, independent domains for safety-critical tasks, preventing failures from impacting vital vehicle functions. Coupled with real-time Quality of Service (QoS) management, the SoC dynamically prioritizes processing tasks to ensure optimal performance under varied conditions.
The Path Forward for Software-Defined Vehicles
As part of Renesas’ R-Car Gen 5 family, the R-Car X5H is designed to address the requirements of the SDV market. By centralizing processing, this SoC streamlines vehicle electronic systems, supporting cross-domain applications like ADAS, IVI, and body control. Renesas’ new R-Car Open Access (RoX) platform provides a development environment with essential hardware, operating systems, and tools for seamless SDV development. This platform accelerates development and enables continuous software updates, critical in the SDV era.
A Vision for Automotive Innovation
The R-Car X5H’s impact on automotive technology is underscored by Asif Anwar, Executive Director of Automotive Market Analysis at TechInsights, who notes that the shift to SDVs will drive the market for high-performance compute SoCs. With its advanced 3-nm process, Renesas’ new SoC enables OEMs to meet power and performance demands across vehicle platforms, enhancing the integration of critical features within zonal and centralized controllers.
Renesas is showcasing the R-Car Gen 5 platform at electronica 2024 in Munich, where the development environment will be demonstrated. This advancement in automotive compute technology paves the way for a new generation of vehicles defined by powerful, efficient, and adaptable SoCs.
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