RISC-V automotive platform targets real-time control with RT-Europa - eeNews Europe

Abstract

A new RISC-V based platform, branded RT-Europa, has been introduced targeting demanding real-time control applications within the automotive sector. This platform is specifically designed to meet the stringent safety and reliability standards required for modern vehicle systems. The launch signifies a major step in the adoption of open-source RISC-V architecture in safety-critical, high-performance automotive domains.

Report

Key Highlights

• The RT-Europa platform is a new automotive solution leveraging the RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture (ISA).
• It is explicitly designed to handle hard real-time control applications, essential for modern vehicle functions like powertrain management and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).
• The platform’s primary market differentiator is its ability to deliver guaranteed determinism and performance required for functional safety standards in automotive systems.

Technical Details

• The architecture utilizes the flexibility of RISC-V to create a highly tailored and optimized core configuration for specialized real-time processing.
• The platform incorporates necessary features for safety compliance, implying support for standards such as ISO 26262 and addressing the required Automotive Safety Integrity Levels (ASIL).
• Focus is placed on minimizing latency and jitter to ensure absolute predictability of task execution, a fundamental requirement for real-time control loops.

Implications

• This marks a significant validation for the RISC-V ecosystem, demonstrating its readiness to penetrate deeply regulated and safety-critical markets previously dominated by established architectures like Arm.
• The RT-Europa project offers automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers a viable, open-source alternative, increasing competition and fostering innovation in specialized chip design.
• It accelerates the trend toward using customizable, open-source hardware to meet increasingly complex functional safety and performance requirements unique to next-generation vehicles.