The automotive industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, with software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and new electronic/electrical (E/E) architectures taking center stage. This new R-Car Starter Kit is a cost-effective evaluation board that can be used by anyone. This comprehensive SK combines Renesas S4 system on chip (SoC) power with a wealth of automotive I/Os, Gigabit Ethernet performance, routing accelerator, integrated hardware safety module (HSM), as well as functional safety (FuSa). The R-Car S4 chipset solution helps to reduce the BOM cost for customers and allows an optimized performance-to-power-consumption ratio. The SK also includes analog ICs such as the PMIC (power management IC) and the timing IC. This article explores the main features and benefits of the evaluation board starter kit, which drives the development of communication gateway and car servers applications.

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The following are some examples of

• Connectivity solution for vehicle server applications
• Embedded Gigabit Ethernet switch
• High-speed communication, CAN/Ethernet converter with hardware acceleration functions
• Low memory access latency with 8MB RT SRAM and 28MB RT VRAM in extended mode
• Features of the embedded RH850/U2A Embedded MCU, including advanced power management
• Support for Freedom from Interference (FFI) with Region ID and SPID Access Protection
• Hardware security module embedded (HSM).
• Support for safety level up to ASIL D

Benefits

• SK includes a Renesas chipset solution, including analog ICs. (RAA271005 timing IC + RAA271005 PMIC)
• Free Software Development Kit (SDK).
• Reduced Build of Material (BoM) due to higher integration levels
• Re-use of high-grade software from RH850/U2A/R-Car Gen3 reduces development costs/time
• High performance and low power consumption

Empowering software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

Renesas R-Car S4 SoC Low-cost Evaluation Board Starter Kit serves as a catalyst to realize SDVs. Below are the typical use cases for the communication gateway/carver electronic computation unit (ECU).

Renesas offers the R-Car S4 Whitebox Software Development Kit free of charge, along with the starter kit. This evaluation board starter kit is equipped with a powerful Renesas R-Car S4 SOC that integrates high-performance application and real-time processor sets. It provides the processing power, as well as freedom from interference, required to develop intelligent software applications for the automotive domain. Developers can integrate over-the-air advanced software update functionality for the ADAS and infotainment system by enabling the software-defined nature of vehicles.

Driving the New Electronic/Electrical (E/E) Architecture

The evaluation board starter kits play a crucial role in promoting the adoption of E/E architectures. Traditional automotive architectures are evolving rapidly to meet the needs of software-driven and connected systems. Renesas R-Car S4 SoC Low-cost Evaluation Board Starter Kit offers a wealth of automotive I/O to allow developers to connect and integrate various automotive systems, controllers, and sensors. The R-Car S4 SoC incorporates real-time capabilities and features from the RH850/U2A Microcontroller. This approach provides a unique migration pathway from the discrete 32-bit Domain/Zone MCU dedicated to ECUs. The software reuse and the reduced BOM allow for the creation of new E/E architectures. It improves system performance, simplifies wiring, and optimizes car communication.

High-speed connectivity with Gigabit Ethernet

The evaluation board starter kit is an excellent choice for vehicles that require connectivity. Gigabit Ethernet capabilities and monolithic, integrated 3-port 2.5Gbs Ethernet switches on the R-Car S4 are outstanding. The starter kit has multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports and hardware-accelerated routes, allowing high-speed communication and reliability between vehicle systems. The seamless integration of cameras, LiDAR sensors, and ECUs is made possible by this kit, allowing for advanced ADAS functionality and real-time processing. Support for Gigabit-Ethernet ensures that the in-vehicle networks can handle the growing data requirements of the next-generation cars, paving the way for advanced applications and services throughout the car’s lifecycle.

Optimum Performance with Routing Accelerators

Renesas’ R-Car S4 low-cost evaluation kit starter kit uses routing accelerators to improve the performance of the routing functions in the system. These accelerators ensure efficient data processing and reduce latency by converting Ethernet/CAN and routing between modules and subsystems. The routing accelerator can help developers reduce CPU load and harness the full power of the R-Car S4 SoC. This will enable faster and more responsive applications for automotive.

Hardware Security Modules (HSM): Enhanced Security

The R-Car S4 HSM is an integrated hardware security module that provides high security for automotive applications. It offers robust security measures, such as secure boot, encryption, and authentication. This protects critical systems and data against unauthorized access. The starter kit allows developers to create secure automotive solutions by incorporating the IDS/IPS reference software. This ensures the safety and privacy of vehicle occupants. This is an important element for supporting car manufacturers’ new business models that run cloud-based services.

The conclusion of the article is:

Renesas R-Car S4 SK provides developers with a cost-effective and comprehensive solution to drive automotive innovation. The Whitebox SDK is simple to use and supports rapid development of proofs-of-concept (POCs) for advanced E/E and software-defined architectures. It helps our customers achieve a shorter “time-to-market.”