Freescale to offer VaST virtual prototypes of automotive powertrain management MCUs

The virtualization tools are meant to help automotive developers manage increasingly complex software.

By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- Electronic News, 9/22/2008

To allow automotive developers to tackle growing software complexities and speed time to market, Austin, Texas-based Freescale Semiconductor said today it is adding virtual prototypes for its automotive Power Architecture microcontroller (MCU) portfolio to its development ecosystem using modeling technology from VaST Systems.

Since powertrain management systems have grown in complexity and performance to meet stringent emissions and fuel efficiency standards, industry demands for quality, reliability and faster time to market have also continued to rise. As such, the automotive ecosystem is responding to these challenges, and virtual platforms have emerged as a compelling solution, Freescale noted.

VaST’s technology allows high cycle count accuracy, fast simulation speed and the functional accuracy required by many electronic control unit (ECU) suppliers since automotive system suppliers use simulation and modeling strategies as an effective substitute for the target hardware.

"Automotive suppliers operate in a high-pressure environment where speed and zero defects are paramount, and developing highly complex software adds to the challenge. Virtualization addresses these requirements by providing automotive developers with early access to pre-silicon development, key technology and validation capabilities. Market realities are driving the need for higher-level software solutions, and Freescale is responding with virtual platforms that can help customers save valuable development time and resources,” explained Peter Schulmeyer, Freescale’s director of strategy for automotive MCUs, in a statement.

Freescale said its 32-bit MCU architecture for automotive powertrain management systems, Power Architecture technology offers developers the combined benefits of cost-effective performance, advanced features and functionality, and extensive third-party tool support that now includes virtual system prototypes (VSPs).

VSPs are available for Freescale’s MPC5554, MPC5566, and MPC5565 Power Architecture MCUs, built on VaST’s Virtual Processor Models (VPMs) for the e200Z6 core and the enhanced timer processing unit (eTPU).

This technology is also integrated with System C based peripheral models to help ensure a virtual replication of the specific device, and by using traditional tools, compilers, debuggers and integrated development environments (IDEs), powertrain system engineers can work with virtual hardware to develop software, test/validation suites and perform system architecture analysis before receiving silicon samples, the companies said.

Freescale said it plans to add models for select current and future 32-bit MCU products for advanced safety, body electronics and next-generation powertrain applications.