Mobility is becoming greener, safer, and more connected. It is reshaping the Automotive industry and redefining our in-vehicle lives. Electrified vehicles, self-driving cars and new services provide more safety, added security and enhanced user experience. However, we need to change the way the functions are designed and updated, and find ways to simplify systems that continue to increase in complexity.
Stellar: the ST platform for software-defined vehicles
The transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) is taking the lead. Based on features and functions which are enabled by software, the hardware lifecycle is separate from the software which is seamlessly integrated in the vehicle in the form of self-contained applications.
Today’s vehicles are turning into software platforms consisting of native and over-the-air downloaded applications.
Software-defined vehicles allow automakers to continuously:- improve functions
- update security and safety features
- offer innovative new services
Electric vehicles (EV) will be the first to undergo this transformation. Upgradability is critical for augmenting EV power efficiency, gaining extra driving range and improving performance.
Traditional electronic/electrical (E/E) architectures are reaching the limits of their capacity to support this software-driven approach. Many electronic control units (ECUs) are based on different and proprietary core technologies, with low-bandwidth connectivity. Heterogenous in-vehicle networks are preventing the implementation of scalable, flexible, and upgradable vehicles.
New vehicle architectures require open hardware platforms, offering high real-time computing efficiency with easily upgradable devices. They are able to handle massive dataflows while observing stringent security guidelines and functional safety requirements.
ST’s Arm®-based Stellar platform reduces the complexity of new vehicle architectures and their electrification. ST's Stellar automotive microcontrollers address the requirements of modern vehicle nodes. These range from application management and high data-stream control to efficient actuation and power conversion subsystems.
The Stellar 32-bit MCU family
Stellar integration MCUs
Our Stellar MCUs meet the evolving needs for more powerful applications and centralized ECUs at the domain or zone level.
Stellar integration MCUs can:- safely run several critical real-time functions
- support the aggregation and dispatching of growing data streams
- ensure efficient energy management
- secure over-the-air software updates for managing vehicle lifecycles and deploying new and improved services
Stellar integration automotive MCUs are ready to meet the requirements of digital transformation . They deliver enhanced motor control interfaces and an advanced generic timer module (GTM). This allows combining several power converters into a single control unit for the optimized management of vehicle dynamics.
We offer different series of integration MCUs for different applications:- Stellar P integration MCUs for motion control
- Stellar G integration MCUs for Gateway and body
Stellar actuation MCUs
The Stellar E series automotive MCUs are tailored for electrification solutions and guarantee efficient actuation of power conversion and e-drivetrain applications. The series is supported by a common ecosystem for fast time-to-market.
- Stellar E electrification MCUs are the ideal SiC/GaN companion chips for digital control enhancement. They deliver efficient OTA updates and upgrades while supporting the most stringent automotive standards in a single device.
ST's Stellar platform benefits
The innovative design of each Stellar MCU series takes advantage of the efficiency of Arm®-based high-performance, multicore architectures. They guarantee real-time responsiveness and a rigorous approach to functional safety, while accelerating customer innovation and time-to-market through a comprehensive ecosystem.
Stellar Arm®-based microcontrollers now deliver a complete, software-upgradable value chain for advanced vehicle architectures. They offer efficient, reliable, and robust management of applications ranging from the control of vehicle dynamics to actuation solutions.
