NXP's new S32K3 MCU addresses cost and complexity of automotive software development

     NXP Semiconductors introduces the S32K3 microcontroller (MCU) family, the latest addition to the S32K product line. The release of the S32K1 series in 2017 was an important turning point, emphasizing the central role of software in automotive development. The new S32K3 family is dedicated to body electronics systems, battery management and emerging domain controllers, continuing to simplify software development with enhanced packages covering cybersecurity, functional safety and low-level drivers.

     The S32K3 extends NXP's S32 automotive platform from gateway and domain control to regional control and edge nodes. Additionally, it enables software reuse across multiple applications, reducing the complexity of automotive software development and reducing the burden on tier-one suppliers and automakers.

     Ed Sarrat, Director of Automotive Processing Product Management at NXP, said: "Software development is one of the main challenges facing modern automotive development, and the S32K3 MCU family is designed to help customers meet this challenge. It can take advantage of free automotive-grade drivers to accelerate development , simplify network security updates and over-the-air updates, and optimize functional safety compliance.”

     The S32K3 cybersecurity solution includes a hardware security engine designed to meet the still-developing ISO/SAE 21434 standard and future OEM requirements. In addition to hardware, NXP provides its own firmware and encryption drivers to reduce the cost and complexity of working with third-party providers. The firmware maximizes the performance of the hardware security engine, blocks unwanted access to protect the integrity of the security subsystem, and is field upgradeable to address evolving cybersecurity threats.

     Customers will benefit from the S32K3's system-level functional safety approach, which includes safety framework software, kernel self-test libraries, and hardware features such as a lockstep core and clock/power/temperature monitoring to easily comply with ISO 26262 requirements. Introduced with the S32K3 is the NXP FS26 secure energy management IC. The portfolio includes software drivers, reference designs and joint safety documentation to further accelerate customers' safety application development timelines.

     A unique real-time driver (RTD) integrates AUTOSAR with the underlying driver of the proprietary software architecture. As a result, Tier 1 suppliers and automakers can reuse software platforms without maintaining different architectures. The real-time drive is a production-grade procedure and complies with the ISO 26262 standard, which reduces the time required for customer code verification.

     S32K3 can guarantee the security of software in the process of wireless update. The smart memory design allows updates to be downloaded during normal operation, while the automatic address mapping feature eliminates the need for software reconfiguration. With these features, it is possible to switch to a new software version instantly after a reset, and the original software is retained as a rollback option.

     The S32K3 family offers scalability from 512KB to 8MB of flash and contains up to 3 Arm® Cortex® M7 cores. In addition, this is NXP's first MCU to be packaged in a breakthrough MaxQFP package that reduces the footprint by up to 55% compared to standard QFP. Combining scalable hardware and easy-to-use software, the S32K3 is designed to accelerate innovations that enable next-generation automotive capabilities.