The MCUs improve real-time processing for automotive and industrial uses, featuring neural processing, fault detection, and strong safety and cybersecurity features.
Texas Instruments (TI) have announced the launch of two new microcontroller series, enhancing real-time processing capabilities for automotive and industrial applications. The TMS320F28P55x series, a first in the industry, includes C2000 MCUs with an integrated neural processing unit (NPU), which allows for high-accuracy, low-latency fault detection. The F29H85x series, powered by TI’s 64-bit C29 digital signal processor core, incorporates advanced safety and security features.
Engineers today face the challenge of designing systems capable of making real-time, accurate, and intelligent decisions for tasks such as arc fault detection in solar and energy systems, and motor-bearing fault detection for predictive maintenance. Addressing this need, the MCU series stands out as the industry’s first real-time microcontrollers with an integrated neural processing unit (NPU), delivering consistent performance for real-time processing tasks.
The NPU in the TMS320F28P55x series significantly reduces the load on the main CPU by handling neural network model executions, achieving latencies five to ten times lower than those possible with software implementations. This enhances the speed and accuracy of decision-making. Moreover, the models running on the integrated NPU are capable of learning and adapting to varied environments through training, achieving over 99% accuracy in fault detection. This capability facilitates more informed decision-making at the edge.
Designers are increasingly seeking a single MCU that combines expanded flash memory, enhanced computational power, and greater functionality in one unit. This demand is especially prominent as vehicles transition from using multiple discrete components to integrated solutions, where a single chip can manage diverse computational and housekeeping tasks within the powertrain. The C29 core, with its 64-bit architecture, addresses this need by delivering over twice the real-time signal-chain performance of the C28 core.
The F29H85x series, built on this core, includes comprehensive diagnostics and error-checking mechanisms and is engineered to meet stringent automotive and industrial safety standards, such as ISO 26262 and IEC 61508, supporting levels up to ASIL D and SIL 3. These MCUs also offer robust cybersecurity features, including a fully isolated hardware security module that safeguards systems from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
