Texas Instruments Jacinto 7 processors facilitate mass market applications for automotive ADAS

     Texas Instruments introduces the new Jacinto 7 processor platform. The new Jacinto processor platform builds on TI's decades of automotive system and functional safety knowledge with enhanced deep learning capabilities and advanced network processing to address design challenges in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automotive gateway applications.

     The first two automotive-grade chips in the platform family, the TDA4VM processor for ADAS and the DRA829V processor for gateway systems, include dedicated accelerators for accelerating data-intensive tasks such as computer vision and deep learning. In addition, the TDA4VM and DRA829V processors include functional safety-enabled microcontrollers (MCUS), enabling automotive Oems and tier-1 suppliers to simultaneously support ASIL-D's safety-demanding tasks and functions with a single chip. The two chips share a software platform that enables developers to reuse significant software investments in applications across multiple vehicle domains, reducing system complexity and development costs.

     By tapping into camera, radar, and liDAR data, ADAS technology helps cars see and adapt to the world around them. The massive influx of information into the car means that the processor or system-on-chip needs to manage multiple levels of data processing in real time quickly and efficiently, and needs to meet the power requirements of the system. TI's new processor uses only 5 to 20W of power to perform high-performance ADAS operations without active cooling. The TDA4VM processor has powerful on-chip data analysis capabilities and is combined with vision preprocessing accelerators to make system performance more efficient.

     Automakers and Tier 1 suppliers can develop front-facing camera applications that use high-resolution 8-megapixel cameras to help vehicles see farther and incorporate more driver assistance enhancements. In addition, the TDA4VM processor is capable of operating four to six 3-megapixel cameras at the same time, while also combining multiple other perceptual processing such as radar, liDAR, and ultrasound on a single chip. This multilevel processing capability enables TDA4VM to function as a centralized processing unit for ADAS, enabling key functions in automated parking applications such as surround views and image rendering displays, while enhancing vehicle perception for 360-degree recognition.

     The DRA829V processor seamlessly integrates the computing power required for modern automotive gateway systems. As automotive technology advances, automotive gateways require a flexible processor to manage larger volumes of data while being able to support the evolving requirements of autonomous driving and communication connectivity. The DRA829V processor is the industry's first to integrate an on-chip PCIe switch, as well as an 8-port gigabit TSN-enabled Ethernet switch, enabling faster high-performance computing and vehicle communication.

     Combined with ASIL-D's ability to support high security and non-security related tasks, these computing and communication capabilities enable automotive manufacturers and tier 1 suppliers to implement a variety of applications with different requirements on a single chip. Higher on-chip bandwidth can also help developers better manage on-board software development and validation, which means more flexible updates and upgrades.