Automotive MCUs are AWS cloud-ready

NXP Semiconductors has extended its support for secure cloud connectivity across its S32 microcontroller (MCU) and processor vehicle compute platform. Addressing body, zone control and electrification applications, NXP has integrated Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud services into its S32K3 automotive MCUs that balance performance and power efficiency, while addressing todays and future connectivity security, and safety challenges.

(Source: NXP Semiconductors)

With FreeRTOS libraries supporting AWS IoT Core, the S32K3 with integrated cloud connectivity speeds development time for software-defined vehicles (SDVs). They securely connect to the cloud and deliver vehicle data-driven insights and services and over-the-air (OTA) updates, as well as seamless connectivity between the S32K3 and devices running AWS IoT Greengrass.

NXP said secure cloud connectivity services will fuel future, data-driven automotive experiences as well as revenue streams. The processing of real-time, vehicle-wide data with secure cloud service access and machine learning can further intelligent vehicles that continually improve with over-the-air updates, added the company.

The S32 devices’ software with AWS cloud solution can be used with wireless connectivity technologies such as 4G/5G cellular and Wi-Fi. The S32K3 devices can connect directly to AWS cloud services  or a more powerful S32G vehicle network processor using AWS IoT Core, AWS IoT Greengrass or AWS IoT FleetWise.

Extending AWS connectivity to S32K3 gives automotive OEMs the flexibility to build AWS cloud connectivity into their vehicles regardless of the vehicle architecture used, NXP said. This includes architectures in which the S32K3 acts as an end node or zonal controller and supplements an S32G vehicle network processor. It also includes configurations with multiple S32K devices without an S32G processor but has at least one S32K3 used as a gateway to access AWS cloud services.

The end-to-end vehicle data solution now spans across the automotive processing solutions – S32K3, S32Z/E, S32G2 and S32G3, enabling new in-vehicle and secure cloud services. The scalable S32K3 devices are low-power Arm Cortex-M series-based MCUs, AEC-Q100 qualified with advanced safety and security and software support for automotive and industrial ASIL B/D applications in body, zone control and electrification. They feature dedicated hardware security engine (HSE) and A/B swap capability. OTA firmware updates to the S32K3 are secure, protected and supported by third-party software and a tools ecosystem.