Renesas adds more deep-learning power to R-Car V3H computing platform
The enhanced SoC enables real-time sensor fusion with an architecture optimised for computer vision. This enables Renesas to offer OEMs and Tier1s a solution that combines high computing power with low power consumption and supports the latest requirements for NCAP 2020 and the roadmap for NCAP 2025 (3 Star).
Building on state-of-the-art image recognition technology introduced in February 2018 with the R-Car V3H, which includes integrated IP for CNN (Convolutional Neural Networks), the enhanced R-Car V3H delivers four times the performance in CNN processing compared to the previous version, according to Renesas. It achieves a total processing power of up to 7.2 TOPS.
The highly integrated SoC supports functional safety in the real-time domain up to safety level ASIL C according to ISO 26262, allowing system designers to eliminate the need for an external safety microcontroller (MCU) that governs sensor fusion and final decision-making actions. The R-Car V3H has a range of IPs that allow the execution of perception stacks and sensor fusion with radar and/or lidar. In addition, the integrated ISP supports up to eight MP cameras. This enables OEMs and Tier1s to get to market faster with lower component costs.
The R-Car V3H was developed following an ASIL-D process to avoid systematic failures for the complete SoC. It supports the metrics requirements for ASIL B (sensor layer, application processor) and the functional safety requirements for ASIL C (real-time domain). Both hardware and software are compatible with the R-Car V3H version currently in mass production at Renesas.
The new SoC integrates a rather comprehensive set of automotive peripherals, such as CAN, Ethernet AVB and Flexray. In addition, the high-performance multiprocessor chip has a comprehensive set of IP devices for advanced sensing and recognition, including CNN IP, computer vision engine, image distortion correction IPs, stereo image processing, classifiers and dense optical flow.
The expanded R-Car V3H is Renesas’ response to the growing demand for high-performance computing platforms for automated driving and complements the SoC offering within the Renesas autonomy platform, which now covers the full spectrum of requirements from NCAP entry-level applications to highly automated driver assistance systems. Users can combine the R-Car V3H SoC with both the high-performance low-power MCU RH850 and integrated power management ICs and power transistors.
Large-scale production for the enhanced R-Car V3H is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2022.
Further information: https://www.renesas.com/r-car-V3H