Freescale and eSOL to collaborate on software platform for Vybrid automotive devices

Freescale Semiconductor and eSOL, a developer of real-time embedded software, have announced that they will collaborate to provide software for Freescale's automotive Vybrid devices. Asymmetric dual-core Vybrid devices can simultaneously run both a real-time application and a multimedia application. eSOL has developed a software platform for automotive Vybrid devices, enabling customers to effectively develop both AUTOSAR-compatible real-time applications that communicate with ECUs (electronic control units) and infotainment applications that use a separate OS, for example, ITRON. The platform also provides the function of linking the two domains safely and efficiently. These unique features make the platform well suited for driver information systems, including instrument clusters, automotive connected radio platforms, car navigation systems, and rear-view cameras, enabling various advanced functions and services, such as driving assistance using the ECU vehicle information and linkage with smartphones or automotive equipment. Freescale's Vybrid controllers are built on a unique asymmetrical-multiprocessing-architecture platform that leverages the company's heritage in MCU development and multicore design. The Vybrid platform integrates the ARM Cortex-A and Cortex-M cores, reducing complexity and cost while increasing system security for automotive applications. Vybrid controllers, along with i.MX applications processors, give Freescale an unparalleled breadth of scalable silicon based on the ARM architecture for automotive driver-information systems. Vybrid controllers bring connected radios, infotainment systems, and reconfigurable instrument clusters to mainstream automobiles and provide reference software that accelerates the time to market. eSOL has ported to the Cortex-M4 core the AUTOSAR BSW (basic software) of the AUTOSAR methodology support tool eSOL ECUSAR and, in a sample application, implemented the feature of retrieving the vehicle information from the ECU via the CAN communication. In the future, eSOL ECUSAR, which can automatically generate AUTOSAR BSW, will be optimized to support the Vybrid devices and made commercially available according to market needs. As for multimedia applications on the ARM Cortex-A5 core, eSOL T-Kernel-based software platform eCROS has been implemented, which integrates various middleware and development tools on the real-time OS eT-Kernel—a successor of TRON architecture. eCROS has been adopted in a wide range of automotive information systems, including car navigation systems, car audio devices, drive recorders, and around-vehicle monitors. It supports MirrorLink, a linkage technology for car navigations systems and smartphones. Moreover, the sample application helps establish communication between an ARM Cortex-A5 core and an ARM Cortex-M4 core. Therefore, the vehicle information retrieved in one application can be shared with the other. In the future, features necessary for driver information systems, such as a sophisticated graphics capability, will be added to further evolve the software platform. In addition to the software platform, eSOL provides professional services based on its experience in vehicle information systems, including AUTOSAR and functional safety, and in control systems. Through this support, Freescale and eSOL help customers develop automotive software based on Vybrid automotive technologies. Freescale Semiconductor eSOL