Software development tool supports Renesas RH850/U2B automotive MCU
With the latest version of its Universal Debug Engine (UDE), software vendor PLS Programmable Logic & Systems offers system developers comprehensive and highly efficient multi-core debug capabilities for Renesas’ new RH850/U2B domain and zone controller.
Targeted at zone architectures and cross-domain applications, the RH850/U2B MCU combines key features from the RH850/E2x series for powertrain and the RH850/C1M-Ax series for HEV/EV motor control. With additional Accelerator IP modules and enhanced safety features, the RH850/U2B is able to perform multiple ECU functions on a single, consolidated ECU that meets both the high safety and real-time requirements of today’s and tomorrow’s automotive applications. The RH850/U2B implements a maximum of eight cores, some of which can also operate in lockstep mode. In addition, a Generic Timer Module (GTM) is integrated. The GTM provides dedicated functions specifically for demanding timer tasks and automotive applications where data must be acquired from multiple inputs and numerous different signals must be generated. To speed up complex mathematical calculations, a RISC-V-based co-processor supporting 512-bit wide vector instructions has also been implemented on the RH850/U2B.
The latest UDE version offers multi-core debugging for the RH850/U2B. For example, it allows cores to be controlled for debugging, testing and deep system analysis within one debugger instance. This eliminates the need to open separate debugger instances for the individual cores of the RH850/U2B. Particular attention was paid to the user-friendliness and efficient manageability of UDE. This is reflected above all in the design of the user interface, which can be adapted to the needs of the developer. Freely configurable perspectives allow multiple views to be defined within a debugger session and to switch between them to focus on a specific debugging task.
For debugging multicore applications and to support different software partitioning, UDE offers the user a choice of different synchronisation modes for traditional run-mode debugging, i.e. breakpoints or single-step operations. This means that the cores of the RH850/U2B can be controlled either all together, in groups or only individually. All cores in such a run-control group can be started and stopped almost synchronously. In addition, multiple groups can be defined for synchronising the cores, for example with two cores per group. This function can even be used to map application clusters directly in the debug environment.
In addition, multi-core breakpoints support debugging of shared code of complex applications. A multi-core breakpoint is always effective, regardless of which core of the associated run-control group is currently executing the code in question.
Specifically for developing programmes for the GTM’s multi-channel sequencers (MCS), the UDE provides breakpoints and single-step operation. It takes advantage of the new hardware features that have been incorporated into the GTM v4.1’s debug system. Applications that use the RH850/U2B’s safety functions are also supported by the UDE. Thus, in addition to the main cores, the integrated safety module ICU-MH can also be debugged.
The programming of the up to 32 MByte dual-banked flash memory is done via the integrated UDE MemTool. The tool also supports programming of the flash memory when it is operated in double-map mode. This mode is needed later in the field to perform OTA (Over-The-Air) software updates. In addition, the UDE MemTool also provides special support for the RH850/U2B-specific configuration and security settings as well as for flash sector protection.
