Green Hills Software, Infineon, and Cetitec Collaborate on High-Performance I/O Aggregator Vehicle Gateway
Green Hills Software, a global leader in embedded safety and security solutions, has announced a strategic collaboration with Infineon Technologies and Cetitec to develop an advanced, cost-efficient I/O aggregator gateway designed to optimize vehicle communication networks. This innovative platform is based on Infineon’s TRAVEO™ T2G microcontroller unit (MCU) and integrates Green Hills’ safety-certified µ-velOSity™ real-time operating system (RTOS) with Cetitec’s Universal Gateway middleware. By bringing together these cutting-edge technologies, the collaboration delivers a low-cost, low-latency solution that streamlines communication in modern Ethernet-based vehicle architectures.
Addressing the Need for Efficient Vehicle Network Communication
With the increasing complexity of modern vehicle network architectures, the demand for efficient communication between various in-vehicle systems has grown significantly. Traditionally, automotive electronic control units (ECUs) relied on intricate wiring harnesses to establish communication between sensors, actuators, and controllers. However, as vehicles evolve towards software-defined architectures, there is a critical need to reduce wiring complexity, lower costs, and improve system performance.
The I/O aggregator gateway addresses these challenges by acting as an intermediary between domain or zonal controllers and vehicle peripherals. Instead of requiring each sensor and actuator to communicate directly with the central controller, the gateway efficiently translates and forwards Controller Area Network (CAN) and Local Interconnect Network (LIN) messages into Ethernet-based communication. This streamlined approach significantly reduces wiring harness complexity, enhances data transmission speed, and improves overall system reliability.
Key Technological Advancements in the I/O Aggregator Gateway
At the core of this groundbreaking I/O aggregator gateway is Infineon’s TRAVEO T2G MCU, which provides a powerful and flexible processing foundation. The platform is preprogrammed and ready for immediate customer use, eliminating the need for extensive firmware development. Additionally, it enables remote updates and configurations through domain or zonal controllers, ensuring seamless system maintenance without requiring firmware modifications.
The primary components and features of the I/O aggregator gateway include:
Green Hills µ-velOSity Safety RTOS
Green Hills’ µ-velOSity RTOS plays a crucial role in enabling real-time performance, security, and safety certification compliance. Some of its key attributes include:
- Lightweight Design: The RTOS is optimized for minimal memory usage, making it ideal for cost-sensitive automotive applications.
- ASIL D Certification: The platform meets ISO 26262 automotive safety integrity level D (ASIL D), ensuring the highest level of functional safety for critical vehicle functions.
- Integration with MULTI IDE: The MULTI® advanced development environment from Green Hills allows developers to efficiently identify and resolve software issues while maximizing system throughput.
Cetitec’s Universal Gateway Middleware
Cetitec, a leading provider of automotive connectivity solutions, has developed a robust middleware stack that enhances the I/O aggregator gateway’s capabilities. Notable features include:
- Support for IEEE 1722-ACF Protocol: This enables efficient communication over Ethernet, ensuring seamless data transmission between different vehicle network components.
- Remote Control Protocol (RCP) Implementation: This feature facilitates edge-node peripheral control, allowing integration with General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART), and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signals.
Infineon TRAVEO T2G MCU Capabilities
Infineon’s TRAVEO T2G MCU serves as the foundation of the I/O aggregator gateway, offering an array of advanced features tailored for automotive applications:
- High-Performance Processing: The MCU is equipped with 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M4F and -M7F CPUs operating at speeds of up to 350 MHz.
- Flexible Connectivity Options: The TRAVEO T2G supports CAN FD, CXPI, Ethernet, and FlexRay protocols, ensuring efficient data exchange and increased bandwidth.
- Memory and Interface Support: The high-end CYT4BF series provides high-speed SPI or HYPERBUS™ interfaces for external memory expansion, a Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) interface for eMMC/SD/SDIO connectivity, and Inter-IC Sound (I2S) interfaces for digital audio device integration.
Enhancing Zonal Architectures for Future Mobility
The I/O aggregator gateway is a crucial component in the transition towards zonal vehicle architectures. In traditional vehicle architectures, individual ECUs manage specific subsystems, leading to an increase in the number of ECUs, wiring complexity, and system costs. By adopting zonal architectures, automakers can consolidate ECU functionalities into fewer, more powerful controllers that communicate with peripheral devices through I/O aggregator gateways.
The benefits of this approach include:
- Reduced Wiring Complexity: By leveraging Ethernet as the primary communication backbone, automakers can significantly cut down on wiring, reducing weight and improving fuel efficiency or EV battery performance.
- Lower System Costs: A simplified network architecture translates to lower manufacturing costs, making vehicles more affordable for consumers.
- Improved Maintainability: With remote configuration and over-the-air (OTA) update capabilities, software updates and system optimizations can be implemented without costly recalls or manual interventions.
Industry Leaders Weigh In on the Collaboration
Executives from Green Hills Software, Infineon Technologies, and Cetitec have expressed their enthusiasm for this collaboration and its impact on the automotive industry.
Ralf Ködel, Vice President, Microcontroller Smart Mobility at Infineon, stated: “The TRAVEO T2G is the ideal foundation for efficient I/O aggregation in zonal architectures. This I/O aggregator solution is a low-memory, cost-optimized design with a ready-to-use software stack from Green Hills and Cetitec to offer maximum flexibility for our customers.”
Dr. Michael Back, CEO at Cetitec, remarked: “Our long-term collaboration with Infineon and Green Hills translates into cutting-edge initiatives. This I/O aggregator solution empowers zonal architectures while ensuring efficiency, flexibility, and reuse of well-tested components.”
Dan Mender, VP of Business Development at Green Hills Software, added: “This production-focused I/O aggregator solution provides our customers timely access to a platform with optimized management of the many different vehicle buses that remain as part of today’s vehicle architectures. By utilizing the Green Hills µ-velOSity safety RTOS with the MULTI advanced debugger, customers can achieve a lower-cost, faster-time-to-production approach for these system designs.”
Market Availability and Live Demonstration
The I/O aggregator gateway platform is now commercially available for automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers looking to implement efficient, scalable vehicle network solutions. A live demonstration of the platform will be showcased at the embedded world 2025 exhibition, taking place from March 11-13, 2025, in Hall 4, Stand 325 at the Green Hills Software booth.
