Infineon Synopsys Automotive RISC-V Prototype

Infineon Technologies is set to unveil a virtual prototype of a microcontroller based on the RISC-V open instruction set architecture specifically designed for automotive applications in the upcoming week. This new addition will join the Aurix family, which currently includes devices based on the TriCore and ARM 32-bit architectures, and is expected to eventually transform into a complete digital twin of the RISC-V microcontroller family.

While Infineon proudly claims the title of introducing the first RISC-V automotive microcontroller to the market, the company has not provided a definitive timeline for the commencement of silicon production. Notably, there are already RISC-V microprocessor cores available from Andes Technologies in Taiwan and Codasip in Munich, both certified to the highest ASIL-D level for automotive applications, serving as intellectual property (IP) options.

The roadmap for the RISC-V Aurix family outlines the development of hardware variants integrated with embedded AI by 2027, hinting at potential production by 2028. The certification process for these designs is anticipated to be time-consuming, especially considering that the current Aurix TC4x TriCore microcontroller has just begun its production phase.

The RISC-V Aurix family is poised to cater to a broad spectrum of automotive applications, ranging from entry-level MCUs to high-performance MCUs, offering capabilities beyond the current market offerings. Infineon emphasizes the significance of this development for software-defined vehicles, highlighting RISC-V as a crucial element for standardization and ecosystem compatibility, fostering a new wave of innovation and collaboration within the automotive industry.

European RISC-V startup Quintauris and collaborations such as Hightec and Andes teaming up for an ASIL-D RISC-V compiler further underscore the growing momentum behind RISC-V adoption in the automotive sector. The virtual prototype of the RISC-V microcontroller has been crafted by Synopsys, a prominent US EDA company, with Infineon playing a pivotal role in supporting the development of RISC-V cores. This initiative is part of the Quintauris joint venture, aimed at advancing RISC-V technology in the European automotive landscape.

The software development kit (SDK) accompanying the RISC-V microcontroller enables Infineon partners to initiate pre-silicon software development activities and will be showcased at Embedded World 2025 in Nuremberg. Leading industry players such as IAR, Elektrobit, Green Hills, HighTec, Lauterbach, PLS, and Tasking have already begun leveraging the SDK to develop innovative solutions, signaling a promising future for RISC-V in automotive applications.