Connected Car News: CDK, VW, Renesas, pSemi, onsemi, Hyundai, TomTom, Marelli, Renesas & Cinemo.

CDK Dealership Cyberattacks

Cyberattacks that caused outages at car dealerships by CDK systems for sales, service and inventory at 15,000 is starting to come back online. It may take several days for all stores to go back online.  Dealerships resorted to selling cars via paper documents. There are reports that CDK had to negotiate with BlackSuit ransomware.

ChatGPT in Volkswagen Infotainment

Volkswagen models featuring the new-generation infotainment system are now also equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) of ChatGPT. The AI-based research tool is available in all new vehicles in the all-electric ID. family, as well as in the new Golf, new Tiguan and new Passat. It can be accessed using the IDA voice assistant and offers a range of new options that go far beyond the voice control previously available. For example, customers can now have search results read out to them, and can interact with the car using natural language.

Kai Grünitz, Member of the Brand Board of Management responsible for Development: “Volkswagen has a long tradition of democratising technologies. As a volume manufacturer, we make these technologies accessible to large numbers of people. By seamlessly integrating ChatGPT into the backend of our voice assistant, we are now offering drivers the opportunity to use this artificial intelligence on a daily basis, thus underlining how innovative our products are.”

Current Volkswagen models already allow users to control the infotainment, navigation and climate control systems using the IDA online voice assistant. The vehicle is also able to answer questions about various topics. But with the introduction of ChatGPT, the possibilities have expanded significantly: for example, AI can provide information on tourist attractions, report on past football tournaments or help solve maths problems. All of this works intuitively: the driver simply talks to the assistant in natural language, and there is no need for them to take their eyes off the road.

Easy to use, no additional account necessary. Volkswagen customers with an existing account for VW Connect/VW Connect Plus can use the IDA voice assistant as usual – they do not require additional access or an additional app. The digital assistant is launched by saying “Hello IDA” or pressing the button on the steering wheel. Only if a query cannot be answered by the Volkswagen system is it forwarded anonymously to ChatGPT; the answer is then provided in the familiar Volkswagen voice. At no point does ChatGPT gain access to vehicle data. Questions and answers are deleted immediately in order to ensure optimal data protection. The online voice assistant can be deactivated either in the settings area of the Volkswagen app or in the infotainment system’s privacy settings.

Technology available in five languages. In January 2024, Volkswagen presented the first vehicles with ChatGPT integrated into the IDA voice assistant at the CES 2024, a trade show for electronics. The technology is currently available in the system languages English (US), English (UK), Spanish, Czech and German. Its use in Volkswagen vehicles has been made possible thanks to a collaboration with Cerence Inc., the global leader in automotive AI solutions, and its Cerence Chat Pro, which uses a variety of sources – including ChatGPT – to enable IDA to provide accurate and relevant responses to nearly every query imaginable.

Renesas R-Car Open Access (RoX)

Renesas Electronics Corporation, a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, launched R-Car Open Access (RoX), a development platform for software-defined vehicles (SDVs) that integrates all essential hardware, operating systems (OS), software and tools needed for automotive developers to rapidly develop next-generation vehicles with secure and continuous software updates. Designed for the Renesas R-Car family of system on chips (SoCs) and microcontrollers (MCUs), the SDV platform includes comprehensive tools for the seamless deployment of AI applications. By pre-integrating all fundamental layers required to develop SDVs, RoX drastically reduces the complexities for car OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, saving time and money.

The advent of SDVs represents a major step forward in automotive technology – accelerating toward more driving autonomy, electrification and connected experiences. Cars have to be aware of the 360-degree surrounding space with ASIL D levels of sensing, processing and control to deliver safety and autonomy applications. The in-cabin experiences for drivers and passengers are being revolutionized. As a result, modern electrical/electronics (E/E) architecture depends on software to control vehicle functions, manage real-time data networks across different ECU zones, and provide customer differentiation. It has become more difficult to maintain and upgrade these complex software stacks while ensuring the highest levels of safety. Renesas’ customizable solution solves these challenges by offering a cloud-native development environment and a simulation platform, supporting the software-first approach and parallel hardware and software development.

Out-of-box platform with market-ready software stacks

The flexible RoX SDV platform is available in two versions. “RoX Whitebox” is an open, easily accessible software package that includes royalty-free OS and hypervisor software such as Android Automotive OS, FreeRTOS, Linux, Xen and Zephyr RTOS, as well as reference applications designed for specific domain systems. “RoX Licensed” is based on industry-proven commercial software solutions, such as QNX and Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System, as well as AUTOSAR-compliant software and SAFERTOS®. It is pre-integrated and tested to run on Renesas’ R-Car SoCs and MCUs and includes pre-validated software stacks from STRADVISION for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Candera CGI Studio for in-vehicle infotainment (IVI), to name a few. These software solutions can be easily productized and customized or expanded depending on OEMs’ needs.

With the RoX SDV platform, automotive system engineers can start building their software immediately using a highly integrated toolchain even before the hardware is available. This is made possible through the cloud environment and the virtual development platform, which let developers design, debug in simulation, and verify their software before deploying on live SoCs and MCUs. The virtual development platform includes the Renesas Fast Simulator (RFS) as well as partner solutions such as ASTC VLAB VDM and Synopsys Virtualizer Development Kit (VDK) to provide broad coverage of simulation speed, features and use cases.

For seamless end-to-end AI development, RoX offers the AI Workbench to enable developers to validate and optimize their models and test their AI applications all in the cloud, either on the virtual development platform or on Renesas board farms. A wide range of AI models, automated pipelines, as well as a specific hybrid compiler toolchain (HyCo) are available to support the rapid AI deployment on the R-Car heterogeneous compute platform across generations of SoCs.

AWS cloud services now available

The RoX SDV platform now supports Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing services as part of the AI Workbench development environment. With the Renesas R-Car SDK (Software Development Kit) containerized in the AWS cloud environment, developers can innovate and optimize their designs more efficiently. This tight integration allows them to simulate and test hardware and software combinations instantly and deploy AI applications that seamlessly run on R-Car devices.

Scalable R-Car Gen 5 family

The RoX SDV platform is designed for current generation R-Car SoCs, the upcoming R-Car Gen 5 MCU/SoC Family, and future devices. The SDV platform provides car OEMs and Tier1 suppliers the flexibility to design a broad range of scalable compute solutions for ADAS, IVI, gateway and cross-domain fusion systems as well as body control, domain and zone control systems.

Renesas’ R-Car Gen 5 is currently the only hardware architecture in the industry that can accommodate the full range of processing requirements – from zonal ECUs to high-end central compute, serving from entry-level vehicles to luxury-class models. Thanks to a new unified hardware architecture based on Arm® CPU cores, customers developing with the R-Car Gen 5 devices will be able to reuse the same software and tools across diverse E/E applications that span car models and generations, preserving their engineering investments. Renesas’ high-performance SoC products will offer both domain-specific and cross-domain solutions using application processing, large display capabilities, sensor connectivity, GPU and AI processing.

“RoX is a significant advancement that will speed up the shift-left approach for software-defined vehicles,” said Vivek Bhan, Senior Vice President and General Manager of High Performance Computing at Renesas. “Today, car OEMs and Tier1 suppliers are heavily investing in software development and maintenance. Renesas understands this challenge and is closely working with them to deliver a flexible, ready-to-deploy development solution that can be maintained throughout the vehicle’s lifespan. The RoX platform empowers our customers to design vehicles that deliver new value and bring improved safety and delightful comfort experiences to drivers and passengers.”

“At AWS, we’re committed to helping our customers and partners accelerate development and bring innovation to drivers faster than ever before,” said Andrea Ketzer, Director of Technology Strategy, Automotive & Manufacturing at AWS. “With Renesas’ R-Car Gen 5 devices supported by the AI Workbench on AWS, customers will achieve faster and more validated simulations and the ability to develop independently of hardware. This step change in development will drive the industry forward and place software innovation at the forefront of mobility.”

According to TechInsights, the market shift to domain, zonal and centralized architectures will translate to a growing processor market, incorporating SoCs and MCUs, worth $25.9 billion by 2031. “Being able to maintain and upgrade complex software stacks that incorporate operating systems, hypervisors and other functional software stacks will thus become an increasingly critical element of the supply chain,” said Asif Anwar, Executive Director of Automotive End Market Research at TechInsights. “By also being able to offer cloud-native environments to support a software-first approach to development and testing of the hardware, the Renesas RoX SDV platform offers a ready-built ecosystem that encompasses these elements in support of a scalable portfolio of next generation R-Car Gen 5 processors to address this sizable market.”

Renesas’ R-Car Open Access Platform is being demonstrated at the AWS Summit Japan in Tokyo from June 20-21.

RoX SDV platform partners:

Operating System/Hypervisor Partners

  • QNX
  • Red Hat
  • Vector AUTOSAR
  • WITTENSTEIN SAFERTOS®

Software Stack Partners

  • Candera CGI Studio
  • EPAM AosEdge
  • Excelfore eSync
  • MM Solutions
  • STRADVISION SVNet
  • Nullmax

Development Tools Partners

  • ASTC VLAB Works
  • Synopsys Virtualizer Development Kit (VDK)

Cloud Partners

  • AWS
  • Microsoft Azure

The R-Car Open Access Platform is available today with the option to license. Open-source OS, commercial OS, full application software stacks, virtual development, cloud infrastructure and debugging and emulation tools are available by Renesas or through partners.

pSemi PE42548

pSemi® Corporation, a Murata company leading in the design and development of semiconductor integration and advanced connectivity, announced the introduction of a new high-performance SP4T RF switch—the PE42548. This advanced packaged solution is set to revolutionize the market by providing an ideal alternative to traditional flip-chip solutions. Designed to accelerate time-to-market, the PE42548 meets the increasing demand for contract manufacturing (CM)-friendly RF solutions, particularly in test and measurement (T&M) applications.

PE42548 is a HaRP technology-enhanced reflective switch that supports a wideband frequency range from 9 kHz to 30GHz. Powered by pSemi’s proprietary UltraCMOS® technology, this switch offers superior performance with a low insertion loss of 2.0 dB at 26 GHz, rapid switching time of 60 ns, high power handling of 33 dBm, and exceptional isolation performance of 41 dB. These features make it perfect for a wide array of applications, including T&M, 5G mmWave, microwave backhaul, radar, and satellite communications. Moreover, the PE42548 operates efficiently in extreme environments, with a temperature range of -40°C to 105°C, and is housed in a compact 20-lead, 3 × 3 millimeter LGA package.

“At pSemi, we aim to deliver innovative RF solutions that not only meet but exceed our customers’ expectations,” says Rodd Novak, vice president, sales and marketing for pSemi. “The PE42548 SP4T RF switch addresses key challenges faced by our customers, offering a streamlined, turnkey solution that simplifies the assembly process. We are excited to bring this advanced packaged RF solution to various industries, including test and measurement, 5G advanced ATE, 6G development, microwave radar, and satellite communications.”

pSemi will be showcasing PE42548 at the 2024 International Microwave Symposium (IMS), to be held June 16–21, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Please stop by booth #1351 to see a live demonstration. Samples for the PE42548 are available now and are expected to be commercially available in late 2024. For more information, please visit the PE42548 product page. To request a sample, please contact sales@psemi.com.

onsemi SiC Manfuacturing in Czech Republic

Electrification, renewables and artificial intelligence are global megatrends converging and driving unprecedented demands for advanced power semiconductors capable of optimizing energy conversion and management. In a strategic move toward addressing these demands, onsemi announced plans to establish a state-of-the-art, vertically integrated silicon carbide (SiC) manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic. The site would produce the company’s intelligent power semiconductors that are essential for improving the energy efficiency of applications in electric vehicles, renewable energy and AI data centers.

“Our brownfield investment would establish a Central European supply chain to better service our customers’ rapidly increasing demand for innovative technologies that improve the energy efficiency in their applications,” said Hassane El-Khoury, president and CEO, onsemi. “Through a close collaboration with the Czech government, the expansion would also enhance our production of intelligent power semiconductors that are essential to helping ensure the European Union is able to achieve its ambitions to significantly reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact.”

“onsemi’s decision to expand in Czechia is a clear confirmation of our country’s attractiveness for foreign investment and will bring significant momentum for the development of our economy,” said Mr. Jozef Síkela, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. “This investment not only strengthens our position in the semiconductor field but can also contribute to the development of the automotive industry and help us with its adaptation to the rise of electromobility.”

onsemi’s Commitment to Europe and the Czech Republic

onsemi’s plan to expand SiC manufacturing with a multi-year brownfield investment of up to $2 billion (44 billion CZK) is part of the company’s previously disclosed long-term capital expenditure target. This investment would build on the company’s current operations in the Czech Republic, which include silicon crystal growth, silicon and silicon carbide wafer manufacturing (polished and EPI) and a silicon wafer fab. Today, the site can produce more than three million wafers annually, including more than one billion power devices. Upon completion, the operation would contribute annually more than $270 million USD (6 billion CZK) to the country’s GDP.

Pending all final regulatory and incentive approvals1, this would be one of the largest private sector investments in the Czech Republic’s history and would further contribute to the prosperity and economic dynamism of the Zlín region. onsemi is one of the first companies to invest in advanced semiconductor manufacturing in the Central European region. With this investment, the company would contribute to the strategic positioning of the region within the EU’s semiconductor value chain and demonstrate that all EU countries can benefit from the European Chips Act. The announcement also reflects onsemi’s strategic alignment with the overarching goals of the European Chips Act of increasing market share and technological advancement to strengthen the resilience of the EU’s semiconductor supply chains in times of ever-growing demand.

Driving Innovation in Power Semiconductors

Silicon carbide is a critical material for high-power, high-temperature applications, and is extremely difficult to produce. onsemi is one of the only companies in the world with the ability to manufacture SiC-based semiconductors from crystal growth to advanced packaging solutions. By expanding its production facilities in the Czech Republic, onsemi would be faster to provide supply assurance for customers, strengthening its leadership in intelligent power solutions. This integration would also enable onsemi to leverage its latest advancements in research and development (R&D) to maximize manufacturing and production efficiency.

1 Including the investment incentive approval by the government of the Czech Republic and its notification to the European Commission

Appotronics  DVN  Lighting Tech

Chinese laser display solution provider Appotronics (688007.SH) attended the 31st Driving Vision News (DVN) Detroit Workshop on June 11 and 12 at the Laurel Manor in Livonia, Michigan of the U.S., along with the world’s leading automakers, including Audi, Ford, and GM, as well as other tier 1 automotive suppliers.

More than 300 technical experts and key decision makers from all over the world discussed the latest technologies and future trends of automotive lighting at the two-day event themed Lighting Technology and EE Architecture to Support New Mobility.

Dr. Han Meng, Senior Director of Business Development of Appotronics, one of first companies to list on China’s sci-tech focused STAR Market, delivered a speech titled Immersive Cabin and Exterior Display at the workshop, elaborating the applications of Appotronics’ laser technologies in automotive lighting, and illustrating the innovative concepts of cabin and exterior display.

The rapid development of the smart vehicle industry prompted the iteration of cabin display scenarios, from the original button control mode to the latest human-vehicle interaction that integrates vehicle functions and entertainment, said Han. The display technologies have also been evolved during the process. Compared with the traditional display technologies, such as LCD, LED and OLED, the laser projection display boasts the advantages of flexible installation, smaller size, and higher reliability, plus the convenience to display on any surface, which will allow more possibilities and design freedom for cabin display.

He told the audience that  Advanced Laser Phosphor Display (ALPD) technology, originally invented by Appotronics, is the only auto-grade laser display and illumination technology. It features auto-certified blue laser, colorful display, wide color gamut and higher color rendering index (CRI). ALPD has been successfully applied on Aito M9, a flagship SUV launched by Huawei/Seres in December 2023, which comes with the industry’s first automotive cabin projector with a 32-inch rollable screen. Appotronics provides the core components for the M9 cabin projector.

Han shared that five months after its release, Aito M9 has received over 90,000 locked-in orders with non-refundable deposits, citing Aito’s official announcement. The SUV’s weekly sales volume topped luxury vehicles above RMB 500,000 in the Chinese mainland for nine consecutive times, according to the Chinese tech media CNMO. Meanwhile, the automotive cabin projector has been highly recognized by consumers following their extensive hands-on experience.

Empowered by the flexible and cutting-edge ALPD technology, cabin projector, sunroof and side window display can convert the cabin into an immersive third living space full of fun, Han predicted.

After rolling out the world’s first auto-grade colorful laser headlight at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show, Appotronics unveiled the world’s first All-in-one Laser Digital Headlight at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show. The All-in-one Laser Digital Headlight blends the functions of Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB), tunable color temperature (compatible with the fog light mode), high beam, floor display, and drive-in theater, meeting the diverse needs of illumination, display, safety, and entertainment.

Han told the workshop attendees that the colorful laser lighting and display headlight fulfills the needs of Intelligent Signal Display (ISD), ADB, Vehicle-to-everything(V2X) and entertainment and enables better “see” and “be seen”. He said that the immersive cabin and exterior laser display renders a higher degree of freedom and scalability in automotive design and saves more space in the cabin while enhancing human-vehicle interaction and addressing personalized needs of both the drivers and passengers. Han added that ALPD technology can save more energy and is thus more environment-friendly, aligning with the philosophy of sustainable development.

Hyundai Mobis AI Sound Inspection

Hyundai Mobis (KRX: 012330) has developed an AI system utilizing sound for quality inspection, which is now implemented in its production lines. This innovative approach leverages artificial intelligence to analyze the subtle sounds generated during product inspection to determine quality accuracy.

On June 18th, Hyundai Mobis announced that it has recently completed a pilot implementation of an Acoustic AI-based inspection system at its Changwon plant, which produces EPS.

Acoustic AI represents a new generation of artificial intelligence technology, distinguished from generative AI, which relies on language for Q&A tasks. It remains relatively untested in the manufacturing industry.

The key to Acoustic AI is developing algorithms that assign meaning to specific sounds and facilitate appropriate judgments. Hyundai Mobis has invested significant effort in developing various AI-based technologies over the past few years, now showcasing production technologies specialized in quality control.

Hyundai Mobis plans to extend the Acoustic AI inspection system from the Changwon plant to other component production lines, prioritizing parts like braking systems that inherently generate noise due to their operational nature.

Choi Nak-Hyun, Vice President and Head of Digital Transformation at Hyundai Mobis, stated, “This initiative marks a pioneering example of process innovation not only in the automotive sector but across the global manufacturing industry. We will continue introducing differentiated AI-based technologies for production, R&D, and improvements in work environments.”

 Analyzes the EPS (Electric Power Steering) Motor Sound Waveform… AI Inspects Quality of One Unit Per Second

While generative AI emphasizes versatility for general users, Acoustic AI is designed for industrial applications, especially smart factories. Its primary advantage is processing large volumes of tasks in a short time. The inspection system at the Changwon plant can detect defective products at a rate of one unit per second.

The Changwon plant produces approximately 1.3 million units of EPS annually. The production process includes 23 stages, from component assembly to vibration and noise inspection.

Since EPS directly impacts steering performance and safety through the steering wheel, meticulous quality checks are essential. Noise inspections are conducted by connecting actual power to the EPS. The sound generated by the rotating motor creates a consistent waveform, which the AI analyzes to identify deviations or anomalies.

Previously, suspect defective products below a certain threshold were initially filtered by an automated system after assembly, followed by manual reevaluation by specialized personnel. To enhance quality competitiveness, Hyundai Mobis collaborated for about a year with on-site engineers, production technology experts, and AI specialists holding advanced degrees to gather and analyze data, successfully developing Acoustic AI. This system can now distinguish defective products and their causes.

Hyundai Mobis plans to validate and expand the application of Acoustic AI. In the manufacturing sector, the company aims to continuously collect meaningful data through its pioneering Acoustic AI and develop proprietary AI models based on this data. The accuracy of this trained AI is expected to improve further. (End)

TomTom & Marelli Infotainment

TomTom, the location technology specialist, announced it will join forces with Marelli, a leading mobility technology supplier to the automotive sector, to offer enhanced in-vehicle infotainment solutions to automakers worldwide.

Marelli’s “Lean” platforms enhance automotive hardware and software design by offering high-performing, cost-effective solutions. A key product is the LeanConnect cockpit, a hardware solution that combines the cluster, in-vehicle infotainment, and telematics into one product. By pre-integrating TomTom’s Digital Cockpit SDK, Marelli offers customers a fully customizable solution that includes TomTom’s industry-leading navigation, traffic information, and EV services.

In addition, TomTom’s Digital Cockpit SDK includes the most important infotainment applications off-the-shelf, fully developed, and tested. Its modular architecture and customization tools provide carmakers, system integrators, software development companies, and content providers with an open and secure environment to focus on developing software and apps for a unique branded experience.

“At Marelli, we’re committed to developing technology that puts the power of personalization in the hands of automakers and vehicle owners,” said Nathanael Sladek, Vice President of Electronic Systems Strategy and Product Management, Marelli. “Combining TomTom’s software and industry-leading navigation and technology with our expertise, we can offer our customers an affordable, complete, and customizable solution that addresses modern automotive needs while improving their drivers’ in-vehicle experience.”

“It’s our shared vision to drive innovation and provide our customers and their drivers with even better solutions,” said Benoit Joly, Senior Vice President of Automotive Sales, TomTom. “Together, we’re addressing the most pressing challenges surrounding the digital cockpit today and enabling automakers to transform the in-vehicle experience for drivers in more efficient, sustainable, and unique ways.”

CNH & Razor Tracking

Case IH and New Holland customers can now see their support vehicles equipped with Razor Tracking devices in the same platform.

CNH partnered with Razor Tracking to develop an integrated system that would allow customers’ equipment and tracked assets to be viewed together in either the Razor Tracking platform or the platforms of CNH (AFS Connect for Case IH customers, or MyPLMConnect for New Holland customers). www.RazorTracking.com/CNH

“This is all about making things easier for our customers,” said Dan Danford, Precision Technology Partner Manager from CNH. “By enabling our customers to make their Case IH and New Holland vehicles visible in Razor Tracking and then view all of their tracked assets in their connected platform, we’re helping them simplify their farm management demands.”

This integration allows Razor Tracking and CNH customers to monitor their equipment, service vehicles, and non-powered equipment in either platform. In addition to seeing GPS location, Razor Tracking devices will also provide vehicle VIN, fuel remaining, hours, location pings, engine running, location history, heading, and speed; when available.

“We are proud to be the preferred provider of a complete solution for CNH,” said Eric Mauch, Managing Partner of Razor Tracking. “Our devices are the perfect complement to any operation with CNH equipment.”

The Razor Tracking platform has significantly expanded in the last several years; and has set out to provide the most user-friendly telematics system in the industry. In 2019, Razor Tracking set out to provide an open data platform and expand its product to allow partners and resellers to embed Razor Tracking technology into their platform or onboard through a reseller program. To learn more, visit RazorTracking.com/integrations.

ABOUT RAZOR TRACKING

Razor Tracking, with headquarters in Fargo, ND since 2012, is recognized for offering the most advanced GPS fleet tracking & management software platform to track vehicles and assets in any industry. Additional products include dash cameras, equipment inspections, safety scorecards, tank monitoring, dispatching, and more to optimize customer operations. Razor Tracking also offers partners the ability to bring its technology to the market via a dealer distributor program. For more information, visit RazorTracking.com.

Renesas RoX

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today launched R-Car Open Access (RoX), a development platform for software-defined vehicles (SDVs) that integrates all essential hardware, operating systems (OS), software and tools needed for automotive developers to rapidly develop next-generation vehicles with secure and continuous software updates. Designed for the Renesas R-Car family of system on chips (SoCs) and microcontrollers (MCUs), the SDV platform includes comprehensive tools for the seamless deployment of AI applications. By pre-integrating all fundamental layers required to develop SDVs, RoX drastically reduces the complexities for car OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, saving time and money.

“At AWS, we’re committed to helping our customers and partners accelerate development and bring innovation to drivers faster than ever before”

Post this

The advent of SDVs represents a major step forward in automotive technology – accelerating toward more driving autonomy, electrification and connected experiences. Cars have to be aware of the 360-degree surrounding space with ASIL D levels of sensing, processing and control to deliver safety and autonomy applications. The in-cabin experiences for drivers and passengers are being revolutionized. As a result, modern electrical/electronics (E/E) architecture depends on software to control vehicle functions, manage real-time data networks across different ECU zones, and provide customer differentiation. It has become more difficult to maintain and upgrade these complex software stacks while ensuring the highest levels of safety. Renesas’ customizable solution solves these challenges by offering a cloud-native development environment and a simulation platform, supporting the software-first approach and parallel hardware and software development.

Out-of-box Platform with Market-Ready Software Stacks

The flexible RoX SDV platform is available in two versions. “RoX Whitebox” is an open, easily accessible software package that includes royalty-free OS and hypervisor software such as Android Automotive OS, FreeRTOS, Linux, Xen and Zephyr RTOS, as well as reference applications designed for specific domain systems. “RoX Licensed” is based on industry-proven commercial software solutions, such as QNX and Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System, as well as AUTOSAR-compliant software and SAFERTOS®. It is pre-integrated and tested to run on Renesas’ R-Car SoCs and MCUs and includes pre-validated software stacks from STRADVISION for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Candera CGI Studio for in-vehicle infotainment (IVI), to name a few. These software solutions can be easily productized and customized or expanded depending on OEMs’ needs.

With the RoX SDV platform, automotive system engineers can start building their software immediately using a highly integrated toolchain even before the hardware is available. This is made possible through the cloud environment and the virtual development platform, which let developers design, debug in simulation, and verify their software before deploying on live SoCs and MCUs. The virtual development platform includes the Renesas Fast Simulator (RFS) as well as partner solutions such as ASTC VLAB VDM and Synopsys Virtualizer Development Kit (VDK) to provide broad coverage of simulation speed, features and use cases.

For seamless end-to-end AI development, RoX offers the AI Workbench to enable developers to validate and optimize their models and test their AI applications all in the cloud, either on the virtual development platform or on Renesas board farms. A wide range of AI models, automated pipelines, as well as a specific hybrid compiler toolchain (HyCo) are available to support the rapid AI deployment on the R-Car heterogeneous compute platform across generations of SoCs.

AWS Cloud Services Now Available

The RoX SDV platform now supports Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing services as part of the AI Workbench development environment. With the Renesas R-Car SDK (Software Development Kit) containerized in the AWS cloud environment, developers can innovate and optimize their designs more efficiently. This tight integration allows them to simulate and test hardware and software combinations instantly and deploy AI applications that seamlessly run on R-Car devices.

Scalable R-Car Gen 5 Family

The RoX SDV platform is designed for current generation R-Car SoCs, the upcoming R-Car Gen 5 MCU/SoC Family, and future devices. The SDV platform provides car OEMs and Tier1 suppliers the flexibility to design a broad range of scalable compute solutions for ADAS, IVI, gateway and cross-domain fusion systems as well as body control, domain and zone control systems.

Renesas’ R-Car Gen 5 is currently the only hardware architecture in the industry that can accommodate the full range of processing requirements – from zonal ECUs to high-end central compute, serving from entry-level vehicles to luxury-class models. Thanks to a new unified hardware architecture based on Arm® CPU cores, customers developing with the R-Car Gen 5 devices will be able to reuse the same software and tools across diverse E/E applications that span car models and generations, preserving their engineering investments. Renesas’ high-performance SoC products will offer both domain-specific and cross-domain solutions using application processing, large display capabilities, sensor connectivity, GPU and AI processing.

“RoX is a significant advancement that will speed up the shift-left approach for software-defined vehicles,” said Vivek Bhan, Senior Vice President and General Manager of High Performance Computing at Renesas. “Today, car OEMs and Tier1 suppliers are heavily investing in software development and maintenance. Renesas understands this challenge and is closely working with them to deliver a flexible, ready-to-deploy development solution that can be maintained throughout the vehicle’s lifespan. The RoX platform empowers our customers to design vehicles that deliver new value and bring improved safety and delightful comfort experiences to drivers and passengers.”

“At AWS, we’re committed to helping our customers and partners accelerate development and bring innovation to drivers faster than ever before,” said Andrea Ketzer, Director of Technology Strategy, Automotive & Manufacturing at AWS. “With Renesas’ R-Car Gen 5 devices supported by the AI Workbench on AWS, customers will achieve faster and more validated simulations and the ability to develop independently of hardware. This step change in development will drive the industry forward and place software innovation at the forefront of mobility.”

According to TechInsights, the market shift to domain, zonal and centralized architectures will translate to a growing processor market, incorporating SoCs and MCUs, worth $25.9 billion by 2031. “Being able to maintain and upgrade complex software stacks that incorporate operating systems, hypervisors and other functional software stacks will thus become an increasingly critical element of the supply chain,” said Asif Anwar, Executive Director of Automotive End Market Research at TechInsights. “By also being able to offer cloud-native environments to support a software-first approach to development and testing of the hardware, the Renesas RoX SDV platform offers a ready-built ecosystem that encompasses these elements in support of a scalable portfolio of next generation R-Car Gen 5 processors to address this sizable market.”

Renesas’ R-Car Open Access Platform is being demonstrated at the AWS Summit Japan in Tokyo from June 20-21.

RoX SDV Platform Partners:

Operating System/Hypervisor Partners

  • QNX
  • Red Hat
  • Vector AUTOSAR
  • WITTENSTEIN SAFERTOS®

Software Stack Partners

  • Candera CGI Studio
  • EPAM AosEdge
  • Excelfore eSync
  • MM Solutions
  • STRADVISION SVNet
  • Nullmax

Development Tools Partners

  • ASTC VLAB Works
  • Synopsys Virtualizer Development Kit (VDK)

Cloud Partners

  • AWS
  • Microsoft Azure

Availability

The R-Car Open Access Platform is available today with the option to license. Open-source OS, commercial OS, full application software stacks, virtual development, cloud infrastructure and debugging and emulation tools are available by Renesas or through partners. Additional information about the development platform is available here and information about the R-Car Gen 5 Family can be found here. Please contact your local sales teams for more details.

Renesas Aquires TGAN

Renesas Electronics Corporation (“Renesas” TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions,  announced that it has completed the acquisition of Transphorm, Inc. (“Transphorm” Nasdaq: TGAN), a global leader in gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors, as of June 20, 2024. With the closing of the acquisition now completed, Renesas will immediately start offering GaN-based power products and related reference designs to meet the rising demand for wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor products.

Hyundai at Cannes

Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) hosted a technical seminar entitled ‘From Logic to Magic: 5 Ways to Make Tech Resonate’ at Cannes Lions 2024 for global media and marketers. The Group is the first in the automotive industry to share its technical thought leadership in an official seminar session at the global event for creative communications.

From June 17, the five-day Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, established in 1954, showcases global advertising and communications excellence across 30 categories in almost 200 sessions. Now in its 71st year, the annual event attracts over 25,000 submissions and 13,000 participants from more than 100 countries. The official seminars and award ceremony are particularly interesting to global marketers due to the intense competition among multinational companies.

Through its seminar, the Group shared how Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation effectively communicate about its complex technologies, namely hydrogen energy, autonomous driving, robotics, advanced air mobility (AAM) and advanced materials, to tackle issues like accessibility, environmental impact, energy efficiency and traffic congestion.

The Group’s presentation emphasized advanced materials and highlighted Hyundai Motor and Kia’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, illustrating how material science supports all technology development by the Group.

The presentation highlighted Hyundai Motor and Kia’s innovative Nano Cooling Film, which is designed to reduce a vehicle interior’s temperature by up to 10°C in hot weather without darkening the glass, significantly lowering the energy consumption needed to cool the interior.

Nano Cooling Film consists of three layers. The outer layer radiates heat at mid-infrared wavelengths from the interior to the exterior of the vehicle, while the inner two layers reflect incoming heat at near-infrared wavelengths, significantly reducing the total amount of heat that reaches the vehicle interior.

In April, Hyundai Motor first rolled out Nano Cooling Film in Lahore, Pakistan, where extreme heat, air pollution and window tinting laws pose challenges. The ‘Made Cooler By Hyundai’ campaign aimed at helping locals who often face pollution exposure or high fuel costs due to excessive air conditioning usage. Despite a local tinting ban, the company equipped over 70 vehicles with Nano Cooling Film for free, along with ‘Made Cooler by Hyundai’ campaign stickers.

The campaign underscored the film’s benefits, like reduced temperatures and enhanced driving comfort, while respecting local regulations and cultural aspects. It highlighted the importance of understanding historical context, legal realities, local behavior, daily experiences and brand bravery when introducing advanced technologies.

More information about Hyundai Motor Group can be found at: http://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com.///

Cinemo Content for NIO

Cinemo, a global leader in high-performance and automotive-grade multimedia playback, streaming, media management, connectivity, and cloud middleware, has partnered with NIO – a leader in the premium smart electric vehicle market – to deliver a home-entertainment-like in-car experience to NIO users in Europe.

With the introduction of the ET7, EL7, ET5, ET5 Touring, EL6 and EL8 models in Europe, NIO is raising the bar for premium in-car entertainment. Powered by Cinemo’s CARS Online Video, journeys are turned into a memorable, shared digital media experience for family and friends.

NIO users can now enjoy their favorite movies and TV series together, from the comfort of their electric vehicle. This experience can be accessed effortlessly from the vehicle’s center display. Through NIO’s SOTA (software-over-the-air) and FOTA (firmware-over-the-air) updates, new features, integrations and functionality are automatically added to its premium entertainment unit.

The Cinemo CARS™ product portfolio, selected by NIO to deliver its exceptional entertainment experiences, is designed for easy integration and quick time to market. Built to enrich the Android Automotive Operating System, Cinemo CARS™ features complete and customizable applications, making it the ideal media solution to complement and enhance Android’s offering with different scenarios, such as multi-screen, premium video-on-demand and immersive audio, delivering a world of entertainment for all passengers. To ensure safety while driving, Cinemo CARS™ products support Android Car User Experience Restrictions.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Cinemo to provide our users with best-in-class video-on-demand experiences,” says Benjamin Steinmetz, Product Experience Director at NIO. “The support from the Cinemo team has been instrumental in achieving our vision to take NIO’s digital multimedia experience to the next level. Using Cinemo’s suite of advanced multimedia solutions ensures we can always provide our users with the latest in-vehicle digital media experiences.”

Elif Ede, VP Strategy at Cinemo adds: “We are passionate to deliver groundbreaking innovations to create future-ready infotainment solutions that not only deliver a premium experience today, but which are also primed for the next wave of in-vehicle innovation. We are excited to bring home-entertainment-like experiences to NIO users.”