Dutch semiconductor firm NXP has updated its development platform for automotive embedded software development with the launch of BlueBox 3.0. The new product is designed to handle more advanced embedded automotive software classes, and greater computation and connectivity.

NXP describes BlueBox 3.0 as its new flagship safe Automotive High-Performance Compute (AHPC) development platform. The new product is designed for software application development and validation ahead of silicon device availability, BlueBox 3.0 improves the platform’s flexibility in addressing user-defined vehicles, safety Level 2+ (L2+) automated driving, and evolving connected vehicle architectures.

By combining in a centralised compute module, safe integrated high-performance NXP processors, expanded I/O connectivity and extensions with Kalray’s MPPA processor-based PCIe cards enabling heterogeneous acceleration; BlueBox 3.0 is designed to provide designers a solution that can accelerate system development cycles and speed time to market.

“The evolution of vehicle architectures towards domain and zonal architectures is being driven by the need to address more complex requirements around user defined vehicles,” said Arnaud Van Den Bossche, Director, Global Product Marketing for eCockpit and ADAS, NXP Automotive Processing. “Zonal architectures will deliver a server-style approach to automotive high-performance compute. NXP BlueBox 3.0 delivers the design foundation to innovate with these new vehicle networking architectures, helping to enable faster deployments.”

Leveraging NXP’s 16-core Layerscape LX2160A processor, BlueBox 3.0 doubles the processing performance from the previous BlueBox generation. This increased performance, coupled with the expanded I/O interfaces, enhances the intelligence and connectivity targeted for new vehicle architectures.

The processing can accommodate radar, vision, and LiDAR signal paths for advanced sensor fusion applications and provides expansion options for AI and ML acceleration with the Kalray Coolidge MPPA (Massively Parallel Processor Array) processors that can be targeted for perception, prediction, pathfinding capabilities and emerging connected services.

NXP’s BlueBox 3.0 platform integrates the NXP S32G processor to provide secure vehicle networking and reliable safety processing and checking for system-level ASIL D conformance.

In addition to Kalray, BlueBox 3.0 is also backed by an eco-system of partners including dSPACE, Embotech, Edge Case Research (ECR), eProsima, Green Hills Software (GHS), Intempora, Micron Technology, MicroSys, Real-Time Innovations (RTI), and Teraki.