Key features of the new software packages:
- Embedded virtualization technology that enables integration of multiple systems while achieving both functional safety and security features
As its first release of embedded hypervisor for virtualization, Renesas adopted the INTEGRITY Multivisor from Green Hills Software. With this hypervisor, a suitable OS for the application software, such as Real Time OS (RTOS), Linux, or Android, can be installed. The required level of security and functional safety can be assured by dividing the system into independent and robust partitions. Diverse applications can be run on a single R-Car platform. For example, Linux and/or Android OS can also be installed to run applications that require cloud connectivity or navigation, and the Green Hills Software INTEGRITY or other real-time OS can be installed on the same platform for applications that require functional safety support, such as instrument cluster and warning sound generator.
The low-performance degradation compared to running these applications on individual hardware such as system-on-chips (SoC) or microcontrollers (MCUs), enables integration in a single system on the R-Car platform. Support for other hypervisors will be rolled out sequentially.
- Security software that realizes a secure environment to safely run programs
Security functions are becoming crucial to prevent hacking and other attacks over the
network. Renesas provides a variety of software for implementing strong security functions, such as: secure boot functions that prevent modifications to programs; security level management functions that correspond to the product lifetime; and trusted execution environments. In addition, the new software also enables OTA updating, which allows application and OS upgrades without the driver having to return to the car dealer. Renesas plans to sequentially roll out a variety of security software packages to respond to system structures and needs, and to support the hypervisor.
- Functional safety software that supports system development for functional safety
To implement functional safety, the Renesas R-Car H3 and R-Car M3 SoCs feature multiple hardware IPs to support their safety concept. This includes the runtime self-test system that Renesas announced at the ISSCC 2016 conference. This technology achieves the required diagnostic coverage of functional safety and reduces interruptions to programs running during the tests while taking advantage of multi-core CPUs to perform self-tests to detect faults. Renesas supports system development that supports functional safety by providing software that controls this safety mechanism. Renesas intends sequentially to roll out a variety of functional safety software packages.
”Today’s automotive OEMs and Tier 1s require a proven run-time software foundation to build production-grade automotive electronics,” said Tim Reed, Vice President of Advanced Products, Green Hills Software. “The INTEGRITY real-time operating system with Multivisor secure virtualization is an ASIL-certified and secure microkernel architecture, a flexible platform for system designers to mix guest OS systems with safety and security-critical functions across multiple cores, while leveraging the R-Car’s high-performance features. As the first company to deploy virtualization into the automobile we are happy to continue to work with Renesas as the first virtualization platform on Renesas’ high-performance R-Car devices.”
As a solution provider, Renesas is committed to providing solutions that support the early development of automotive computing systems and advanced driving assistance systems by collaborating with partners and contribute a safe and secure automotive future.
