STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor provider, has launched Stellar with xMemory, a new generation of extensible memory embedded into its Stellar series of automotive microcontrollers, transforming the challenging process of developing software-defined vehicles (SDV) and platforms for electrification.
Instead of managing multiple devices with varying memory options and the associated development and qualification costs, Stellar with xMemory introduces a single, innovative device with extensible memory, providing customers with an efficient and cost-effective solution.
This simpler approach from the start enables carmakers to future-proof their designs, with room for additional innovation later in their development cycle, reducing development costs and accelerating time to market with a simpler supply chain.
Stellar with xMemory will be first available on the Stellar P6 MCUs, which target the new drivetrain trends and architectures for electric vehicles (EVs), with production to start later in 2025.
How it works
Automakers require seamless integration of software and hardware to maximize reuse across platforms, extend vehicle longevity and enhance digital capabilities. Memory becomes a bottleneck as software complexity grows, driven by new features and regulations, memory-hungry AI and Machine Learning applications, and over-the-air (OTA) updates.
ST’s xMemory addresses this challenge by extending the memory either during the development phase or when vehicle is in the field, giving them unlimited application upgrades.
Selecting the right MCU at the start of the SDV lifecycle ensures sufficient on-chip memory for future software development. Today’s choice of over-specifying memory increases costs, while under-specifying may necessitate finding and re-qualifying a different MCU with extra memory later, adding complexity, cost, and delays.
Stellar MCUs with xMemory are competitively priced to bring additional savings, simplify the OEM supply chain, and accelerate time to market by lengthening the product lifetime and maximizing reuse across projects to reduce time for qualification.
“This innovative solution enables the same hardware to ensure carmakers have the infrastructure and capabilities with the headroom to continuously innovate their products over time,” said Luca Rodeschini, Group VP and General Purpose and Automotive Microcontrollers Division GM, STMicroelectronics. It provides peace of mind to introduce new innovations in digitalization and electrification, allowing them to stay ahead in the market and extend the lifetime of their vehicles.”
Filed Under: Software, Technology News