NXP Extends Industry-First 28 nm RFCMOS Radar One-Chip Family to Enable ADAS Architectures for Software-Defined Vehicles
- The new SAF86xx radar SoC family is sampling now for alpha customers
- The highly integrated radar SoC is intended for streaming rich low-level radar sensor data at up to 1 Gbit/s
- It provides extended detection range beyond 300 m and more reliable detection of small objects like curb stones, cyclists, and pedestrians
- The new radar one-chip supports NCAP safety functions, advanced ADAS, and autonomous driving applications
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The introduction of NXP's new SAF86xx radar one-chip is a significant development in the automotive industry, particularly in the context of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies. This product represents a leap in the integration of radar transceiver, processor and secure data communication, which is critical for the functionality of software-defined vehicles.
From a technology standpoint, the transition from 40 nm or 45 nm products to a 28 nm RFCMOS platform is noteworthy. This miniaturization is likely to result in more compact, power-efficient radar sensors that can be more easily integrated into various vehicle designs. The ability to perform over-the-air updates is a forward-looking feature that aligns with the industry's move towards vehicles that can evolve and improve post-sale.
The potential market impact of such a product is substantial. Given the increasing regulatory emphasis on vehicle safety and the consumer demand for advanced safety features, NXP's new offering could see significant uptake by OEMs. This, in turn, could influence NXP's market share and financial performance in the automotive semiconductor sector.
With the integration of a MACsec hardware engine, NXP's SAF86xx radar SoC addresses the critical need for secure communication in vehicles, which has become a paramount concern given the rise of connected and autonomous vehicles. The adherence to ISO 26262 for functional safety and ISO/SAE 21434 for cybersecurity demonstrates a commitment to meeting the highest industry standards.
The inclusion of a Hardware Security Engine (HSE) and the product's development according to Safety Element out of Context (SEooC) methodology are both proactive measures to ensure that the chip can be trusted for safety-critical applications. The ability to support ASIL Level B is particularly relevant for systems that require a high level of reliability and safety.
For stakeholders, the emphasis on security and compliance not only mitigates the risk of cyber threats but also positions NXP as a reliable partner in an industry where trust and safety are paramount. This could strengthen customer loyalty and attract new business from car manufacturers prioritizing cybersecurity in their vehicles.
The automotive radar market is rapidly evolving, driven by the push towards higher levels of vehicle autonomy. NXP's partnership with HELLA, a leading supplier of automotive electronics, to underpin its 7th generation radar portfolio suggests a strategic move to capture a larger share of the ADAS and autonomous driving market.
The SAF86xx's support for a wide range of safety functions and advanced ADAS applications positions it well within the competitive landscape. The chip's ability to support emergency braking, blind-spot detection and other NCAP safety functions aligns with current market trends and regulatory demands for enhanced vehicle safety. Furthermore, the capacity to handle advanced comfort features for SAE levels 2+ and 3 indicates readiness for the next wave of autonomous driving technologies.
Given the competitive nature of the automotive semiconductor industry, NXP's announcement could influence investor perception of the company's growth prospects. If the SAF86xx radar SoC family delivers on its promises, it could lead to increased adoption by OEMs, potentially driving up NXP's stock value in the long term.
- New radar one-chip targets distributed radar architectures and is designed to deliver a seamless transition path from today’s smart sensors to future streaming sensors
- NXP’s full system solution enables software-defined radar, including 360-degree sensor fusion, better sensor resolution and AI-based object classification
- HELLA, as a leading supplier of automotive electronics, will leverage NXP’s SoC family as the foundation for its 7th generation radar portfolio
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CES – NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) today announced an extension of its automotive radar one-chip family. The new SAF86xx monolithically integrates a high-performance radar transceiver, a multi-core radar processor and a MACsec hardware engine for state-of-the-art secure data communication over Automotive Ethernet. Combined with NXP’s S32 high-performance processors, vehicle network connectivity and power management, the full system solution paves the way for advanced, software-defined radar.
The highly integrated radar SoC (System-on-Chip) is intended for streaming rich low-level radar sensor data at up to 1 Gbit/s. It helps carmakers optimize next-generation ADAS partitioning for software-defined vehicles, while providing for a smooth transition to new architectures. Additionally, OEMs will be able to easily introduce new software-defined radar features during the lifetime of the vehicle through Over-the-Air (OTA) updates.
It also shares a common architecture with the SAF85xx introduced last year and leverages 28 nm RFCMOS performance for significantly improved radar sensor capabilities, compared to prior-generation 40 nm or 45 nm products. It enables Tier-1 suppliers to build more compact and power-efficient radar sensors. Drivers and other road users will benefit from extended detection range beyond 300 m, along with more reliable detection of small objects like curb stones as well as vulnerable road users including cyclists and pedestrians.
HELLA, a leading supplier of automotive electronics, will leverage NXP’s SoC family as the foundation for its 7th generation radar portfolio, including variants for front, rear, corner, and side radar. Dr. Dietmar Stapel, Vice President, Radar Program Management at HELLA, stated: “After initiating our collaboration with NXP on the development of RFCMOS-based radar sensors approximately 10 years ago, we can now look back and confidently say that choosing this collaboration was the right decision. Leveraging NXP’s RFCMOS TEF81xx and TEF82xx automotive radar transceivers, we have become a leading provider of automotive 77/79 GHz corner radar sensors. With NXP’s radar SoC family, we are now prepared to expand our market position and offer radar solutions for all relevant radar-supported functions, up to level 4 automated driving.”
The new radar one-chip supports NCAP safety functions including emergency braking and blind-spot detection. It also supports advanced ADAS and autonomous driving applications, including advanced comfort features for SAE levels 2+ and 3 such as traffic jam assist, highway pilot and park assist, front and rear cross-traffic alerts, as well as lateral and rear collision avoidance.
“Using our new SAF86xx radar one-chip family, OEMs can quickly and easily migrate their current radar platforms to new software-defined vehicle architectures,” said Steffen Spannagel, SVP and GM, ADAS, NXP Semiconductors. “A network of connected radar sensors with software-defined functions on a dedicated S32R radar processor in a distributed architecture can enhance radar-based perception to support advancements in autonomous driving. That includes 360-degree sensing, more powerful AI-based algorithms and secure OTA software updates.”
The comprehensive SAF8xxx family featuring the new SAF86xx and SAF85xx can be tailored for individual OEM use cases. It supports a range of sensor outputs, including object, point cloud-, or range-FFT-level data for smart sensors in today’s architectures and streaming sensors in future distributed architectures.
Extending NXP’s 3rd generation RFCMOS radar platform
- Built on the proven RFCMOS automotive radar expertise of NXP, which was the first to ramp to high volume series production and has already shipped tens of millions of units
- The highly integrated 76 to 81 GHz SAF86xx radar SoC is optimized for streaming sensors and include a Gigabit Ethernet interface and enhanced MACsec security
- The SAF86xx is developed in accordance to ISO 26262 Safety Element out of Context (SEooC) methodology supporting ASIL Level B, in accordance to ISO/SAE 21434 (as a component-out-of-context) and meets the latest security requirements through its HSE security engine
Availability
The SAF86xx radar SoC family is sampling now for alpha customers.
For more information, please visit: www.nxp.com/saf86xx
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NXP’s Radar Portfolio
Already sampling to lead customers and targeting next-generation OEM platforms, NXP’s new SAF86xx radar family builds upon NXP’s complete suite of radar sensor solutions designed to surround vehicles in a 360-degree safety cocoon. The scalable suite of sensing solutions is tailored to cover car OEMs’ ever-diversifying use cases and architectures, from corner radar to high-resolution 4D imaging radar. The S32R platform offers a common architecture for software reuse and speedy development along with a high-performance hardware security engine, OTA update support and compliance with the newest cybersecurity standards.
About NXP Semiconductors
NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) brings together bright minds to create breakthrough technologies that make the connected world better, safer and more secure. As a world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, NXP is pushing boundaries in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets while delivering solutions that advance a more sustainable future. Built on more than 60 years of combined experience and expertise, the company has approximately 34,500 team members in more than 30 countries and posted revenue of
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