Freescale explains that the S32V Vision Microprocessor represents an essential intermediate stage required to evolve from the "assistive" technologies championed by current advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) toward fully automated vehicles. In other words, for autonomous vehicles to advance to the next stage, automated systems capable of making decisions to process information accurately and take necessary measures are critical.

To usher in a new era where vehicles can serve as trustworthy co-drivers, Freescale emphasizes that products such as consumer-grade semiconductors, which have inferior technology capabilities compared to automotive semiconductors, must not be used in vehicle control and critical driving decisions.

The S32V Microprocessor, manufactured in accordance with Freescale's SafeAssure functional safety program, meets stringent ISO 26262 functional safety standards through structural design and is engineered to conform to automotive quality standards measured in ppb (parts per billion) units.

Additionally, the second-generation CogniVue APEX image recognition processing technology, which provides superior performance-to-power ratio, enables the combination of collected visual data with other multiple data streams including radar, LiDAR, and ultrasonic information, thereby achieving optimal resolution and image recognition accuracy.

Secure boot, network-grade encryption engines, and secure key functions provide outstanding security levels, while individual encryption domains provide an additional protection layer within the vehicle network, effectively isolating and containing hacking attempts.

Through partnerships with related systems, Freescale's ADAS Vision Microprocessor is prepared to provide a comprehensive ecosystem, enabling ADAS functions to be implemented more easily and quickly, explained Park Ju-yang, Senior Managing Director of Technical Support at Freescale Korea.

First, in terms of IP, the S32V is equipped with robust hardware including the high-performance CogniVue APEX-642 core image processing technology and four ARM Cortex-A53 cores. "This four-core configuration is for high-end products, but we will introduce low-end product lines with reduced core counts in the future," Park said. Second, the S32V's sophisticated software platform is equipped with Green Hills Software's real-time operating system (RTOS). Third, it also includes advanced real-time object recognition algorithms from Neusoft, enabling identification and classification of road hazards and pedestrian risks.

In short, the S32V is a product optimized for vision applications, with single-chip samples expected to be available in June this year and full market customer supply anticipated in July, according to Freescale. Additionally, Park noted that "initial products are expected to launch between 2017 and 2018, with widespread automotive deployment anticipated around 2019."