Düsseldorf, September 21, 2021 ― Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today unveiled the R-Car Software Development Kit (SDK), a complete software platform in a single package that enables quicker and easier software development and validation for smart camera and automated driving applications used in passenger, commercial, and off-road vehicles. "Software development and delivery has been a significant pain point for automotive system developers, involving resource-intensive customized packaging and full installations that typically take several days to complete," said Naoki Yoshida, Vice President, Automotive Digital Products Marketing Division at Renesas. "To alleviate these headaches when it comes to deep learning for automotive systems, Renesas is reinventing the developer experience, offering this new single package, multi-OS software platform that is easy for customers to access, learn, use, and install, enabling customers to quick start their deep learning development." Re-inventing SW development for Automotive Applications Automakers are increasingly turning to deep learning as they look for new ways to enable smart camera applications and automated driving systems for next-generation vehicles. However, most deep learning solutions available today are built on consumer or server applications, which do not operate under the same stringent constraints for functional safety, real-time responsiveness, and low power consumption.

Renesas has announced the expansion of its RZ/G2 general-purpose 64-bit microprocessors, with improved artificial intelligence (AI) processing. The company has added three entry level microprocessor models built around the Arm Cortex-A55 core. Renesas adds that the seven RZ/G2 microprocessors provide scalability from entry-level to high-end design. The RZ/G2Lx microprocessors' Arm Cortex-A55 CPU core delivers approximately 20 per cent improved processing performance compared with the previous Cortex-A53 core. It also provides approximately six times faster essential processing for AI applications, says the company.

Qeexo announces that its Qeexo AutoML platform now supports machine learning on Arm Cortex -M0 and Cortex -M0 processors, which power devices including sensors and microcontrollers from companies such as Arduino, Renesas, STMicroelectronics, and Bosch Sensortec. The Arm Cortex-M0 processor is the smallest Arm processor available, and the Cortex-M0 processor builds on Cortex-M0 while further reducing energy consumption and increasing performance. Qeexo is the first company to automate adding machine learning to a processor of this size. The Cortex-M0 and Cortex-M0 processors are designed for smart and connected embedded applications, and are ideal for use in simple, cost-sensitive devices due to the lower power-consumption and ability to extend the battery life of critical use cases such as activity trackers. Machine learning models built with Qeexo AutoML are highly optimized and have an incredibly small memory footprint.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has sparked the proliferation of connected devices. These devices, which house sensors to collect data of the day-to-day activities or monitoring purposes, are embedded with microcontrollers and microprocessors chips. These chips are mounted based on the data sensor needed to complete an assigned task. So we don't have a one processor fits all architecture. For example, some devices will perform a limited amount of processing on data sets such as temperature, humidity, pressure, or gravity; more complicated systems, however, will need to handle (multiple) high-resolution sound or video streams.

Additional IP now available from Renesas Electronics includes a 7nm process ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) and standard Ethernet time sensitive networking (TSN) IP. Customers will have access to IPs such as advanced 7nm (nanometer) SRAM and TCAM, and leading-edge standard Ethernet time-sensitive networking (TSN) IP, says the company, which is also working on providing a system IP which includes processing in memory (PIM) for use as an artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator. Customers can use these IPs to jump start semiconductor device development projects, such as the development of next-generation AI chips or ASICs for 5G networks. Customers developing custom chips can leverage the IP in the subsystem, or those using FPGA devices can use it to speed up software development while they focus resources on specialty areas to reduce development time. Customers who prefer to use existing software assets can take advantage of Renesas IP assets to achieve more efficient system development by reducing the resources required to develop, verify and evaluate software and boards.

It may be a long time before you can own a truly self-driving car. But chipmakers are placing bets that you will. On Tuesday, the Japanese chipmaker Renesas, the second-largest provider of semiconductors for the automotive industry, said it will acquire San Jose based chipmaker Integrated Device Technology (IDT) for $6.7 billion, in part to prepare for autonomous vehicles. IDT has not historically provided chips for cars, but it does have sensor and wireless technologies that could help Renesas compete in the market for chips for autonomous vehicles. "Renesas and IDT have complementary technologies," says Objective Analysis analyst Jim Handy.

Global chip makers have lately been trying to stake out positions in next-generation vehicle technology. Last year, Intel Corp. bought Mobileye, an Israeli company known for chip-based camera systems that power automated driving features, for about $15 billion. Renesas Chief Executive Bunsei Kure said adding IDT would strengthen his company's presence as a supplier of system-on-a-chip products for vehicles equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous driving technology. "Competition in the semiconductor industry has become like mixed martial arts," Mr. Kure said. Renesas was the second-largest semiconductor supplier to the automotive industry by revenue in 2017 with $3.5 billion, following No. 1 NXP Semiconductors NV of the Netherlands at $4.4 billion, according to data from research firm IHS Markit .

Chipmaker Renesas Electronics Corp. said Tuesday it has agreed to buy U.S. peer Integrated Device Technology Inc. for about $6.7 billion (¥747 billion), aiming to boost its expertise in self-driving car technologies. The deal allows Renesas, second only to NXP Semiconductors NV in chips used in cars, to bring on board IDT's know-how in chips for wireless networks and data storage which are crucial for self-driving cars. Renesas will pay $49.00 per share in cash for all IDT outstanding shares, compared with Monday's close of $42.08. The deal is expected to be closed in the first half of 2019, following approval by IDT shareholders and the relevant regulatory authorities, Renesas said in a statement. It will finance the acquisition with ¥679 billion of bank loans and cash, it said in the statement. The firm said the deal with IDT should "strengthen its presence in the industrial and automotive segments."