Streamlining secure connected-car applications

Semiconductor company STMicroelectronics has announced its collaboration with ETAS, a provider of innovative solutions for developing automotive embedded systems, and ESCRYPT, an ETAS subsidiary focused on security for embedded software, to deliver a complete platform comprising microcontrollers, software tools and security solutions that accelerates development of automotive control units for the connected-car age.

Today’s auto designers rely more and more on electronic control units (ECUs) to manage intricately featured applications, including brake-by-wire, automatic transmission, multimode lighting, parking assist, collision avoidance and many others. These ECUs are enabling ‘digital’ control of each function of the car through sending commands over the communication network that interconnects the vehicle subsystems. Moreover, more cars are becoming connected to the cloud, enabling new functionalities like over-the-air (OTA) software updates, remote diagnostics and the forthcoming V2X communication.

To safely support such trends, there is an acceleration in the deployment of robust hardware and software security platforms that are managed over the entire vehicle lifetime. ST is working with ETAS and ESCRYPT to deliver a platform for subsystem developers to create ECUs that ensure a high level of protection for vehicle owners’ privacy, OEMs’ intellectual property, ECU functional integrity and secure communication among the car’s ECUs and the cloud.

The solution leverages ST’s SPC58 series of power-efficient and real-time-capable automotive microcontrollers, which feature a built-in hardware security module (HSM) as well as multiple CAN FD interfaces, plus LIN, FlexRay and ethernet with time-stamping to implement both control units with a functional integrity check and an in-vehicle network with encrypted communication. This approach expands ST’s offering for connected-car defence.

“SPC58 automotive microcontrollers deliver the underlying ruggedness and hardware security the industry needs at a competitive price,” said Luca Rodeschini, director Strategic Business Development and Microcontroller Business Unit, Automotive and Discrete Product Group, STMicroelectronics.

ESCRYPT is contributing its expertise in secure ECU communication, including distribution of OTA software updates, and provides firmware and middleware for ECU developers to utilise the SPC58 HSM. Together, the HSM and ESCRYPT’s security technologies handle all the necessary authentication of trusted sources and prevention of access by unauthorised agents.

“We provide our product CycurHSM, the essential solution that exercises the HSM and our Key Management Solution to secure every aspect of the ECU’s activity, including secure boot-up, programming and updates, as well as secure in-vehicle communication,” explained ESCRYPT Managing Director Dr Thomas Wollinger.

The product leverages ETAS’s RTA software products that support ECU code development. RTA-BSW (Basic Software) consists of a full AUTOSAR (automotive open systems architecture) solution including AUTOSAR R4-compliant basic software capable of supporting safety-critical ECUs for both passenger cars (ISO 26262) and off-highway (ISO 25119) domains. RTA-BSW is complemented by ISOLAR-A and ISOLAR-EVE tools for authoring and testing a full ECU software stack in a virtual environment.

“We are building on a proven record of successful collaborations with ST,” said Dr Nigel Tracey, leader of the ETAS Application Field RTA Solutions. “With our comprehensive ECU development environment, and the added dimension of advanced security from our subsidiary ESCRYPT, this new platform will enable OEMs to maximise the value of the connected-car concept and quickly build confidence among partner organisations and end users.”