In a bid to help automakers cut the fuel consumption and emissions of next-generation engines, Freescale Semiconductor is rolling out a three-core microcontroller (MCU) that they predict will boost computing performance without drawing more power.
The new MCU, being introduced at this week's Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit, could enable engineers to more precisely control direct injection fuel systems, which are gaining popularity as automakers try to eke more efficiency out of future engine designs. The product is said to offer twice the performance of its best predecessors without a corresponding increase in current consumption.
Freescale's Qorivva MPC5746M (center) doubles computing performance for automotive powertrains without drawing more power. (Source: Freescale Semiconductor)
"Up to now, powertrain has always been about more (computing) performance," Tony Veri, product marketing manager for powertrain MCUs at Freescale Semiconductor, told us. "But lately we're hearing from customers saying, yes, they need more performance, but they also need to get more efficient use of current."
Known as the Qorivva MPC5746M, the new device uses three Power Architecture cores, each operating at 200MHz. The three-core architecture is said to be significant because it doubles the computing performance of its predecessor, but keeps the device "in the same power envelope."
"Clearly, we have the capabilities to create a 400- or 600-MHz, or even a 1-GHz, core," Veri said. "But the problem is that the power would go through the roof and that would now be unacceptable. The only way we are able to get the computational rates we need and still keep power in check is by going the multicore route."
Veri said that the three-core device offers about twice as many "Automarks" as its predecessor, the MPC5674F, which was rated at 305 Automarks. An Automark, calculated by locating the engine's cog when the spark is ignited, is a computing benchmark commonly used by automakers.
I've seen two performance advantages from a multicore design. Since many high-end designs use an OS that time slices the various tasks performed by the application, a multicore can now devote an entire core to a specific task. The next boost is from designs that had multiple processors. Rather than having a communication link between the various processors, the processors now share the same resources and cohabitate together without having to communicate.
Two of the cores serve as basic microprocessors and one handles all of the I/O controls, which makes a lot of sense because I/O operations and handling various streams of serial data from sensors, microcontrollers, and wireless links could weigh heavily on the dual core portion of the chip. The 3-processor chip offers some redundancy as well as error-detection and error-correction technologies, mandatory for safety-critical equipment.
The Freescale processor will run the AUTOSAR operating system, available from other software suppliers. For information, visit: http://www.autosar.org/download/R4.0/AUTOSAR_SWS_OS.pdf. I believe version 4 supports multicore processors.
I would think that multicore might also help automakers do what they've been trying to do for years -- that is, cut the number of microcontrollers in vehicles. Some of the more complex high-end vehicles are now using 80 or 90 MCUs each.
I agree, Naperlou. It's interesting to see that multicore is gaining ground, not just because of its raw processing power, but because it offers lower power consumption.
Chuck, that is an interesting development. Lower clock speeds mean less power drawn, that is true. Automotive applications (especoally engine control) consist of a large number of calculations done repetitively in a short time. Couple the extra cores with virtualization software and you can get great performance with lots less power.
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