Cortex-M0+ automotive MCU with functional safety and cybersecurity

Author: EIS Release Date: Sep 22, 2022

Microchip is aiming to meet ISO 26262 functional safety and new ISO/SAE 21434 cybersecurity standards with a family of Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontrollers with memory-built-in self-test, secure boot and support for Autosar – the latter an open software architecture that allows lower-level hardware to be changed without changing the original application code.

 

Microchip EV81X90A PIC32CM JH01 Curiosity Pro development boardMicrochip is aiming to meet ISO 26262 functional safety and new ISO/SAE 21434 cybersecurity standards with a family of Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontrollers with memory-built-in self-test, secure boot and support for Autosar – the latter an open software architecture that allows lower-level hardware to be changed without changing the original application code.

 

“When using Autosar, Microchip offers ASIL B microcontroller abstraction layers for functional safety applications, providing the lower-level hardware interface to the MCU,” according to the company.

 

Regarding ISO 26262 and ISO/SAE 21434, it argues that automotive OEMs require functional safety and cybersecurity for automated driver assistance, but also for touch buttons, touch wheels, door controls and console controls.

 

Tthe new parts, called PIC32CM JH, need to be paired with one of Microchip’s TA100 security ICs to meet the ISO/SAE 21434 Cybersecurity Standard for Automotive.

 

“Manufacturers now have the option to use an entry-level Arm Cortex-M0+ based MCU to meet compliance requirements previously only available on higher-end MCUs,” claimed Microchip v-p of 32bit MCUs Rod Drake.

 

Secure boot is included to authenticate code before it runs, and the MCU also has hardware error correction, fault injection and loop-back on communications interfaces.

 

Functional safety support comes from a safety manual, FMEDA (failure modes effects and diagnostic analysis) and diagnostic code aimed at ISO 26262 ASIL B.

 

The MCUs are 2.7 to 5.5V, -40 to +125°C, 48MHz parts with 512kbyte of flash (one part has 256kyte), dual CAN FD buses and the company’s ‘driven shield plus’ noise and water tolerant touch-interface.