STMicroelectronics AutoDevKit ECU prototyping ecosystem

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STMicroelectronics is helping the automotive industry deliver safer, greener and smarter vehicles to market more quickly with tools that assist the development of electronic control units (ECUs), the ‘mini-computers’ that manage the numerous electronic systems in today’s vehicles.

The AutoDevKit ecosystem introduces an efficient toolset for creating working prototypes, replacing traditional artisan approaches and supporting standardisation and design re-use. Available for free, the AutoDevKit library is a software environment that lets users select the microcontrollers and functional boards from ST’s automotive portfolio to easily prototype an automotive solution.

After choosing the preferred AutoDevKit components, users are guided to connect the boards, generate code, compile and download firmware, without forgetting prototype testing and debugging. The ecosystem offers easy-to-use application-program interfaces (API) for communication and control for each of the functional boards supported. It can cut months of engineering effort from traditional prototype development by letting users concentrate on system functionality and offload low-level tasks such as building device drivers.

The AutoDevKit software is part of the integrated design environment for ST’s SPC5 automotive microcontrollers. The complete ecosystem includes the AutoDevKit library plugin and hardware development tools including AEK MCU discovery and functional boards and AEKD System Solution Demonstrators that are optimised for automotive use.

The AEK tools include discovery boards for evaluating specific automotive microcontrollers and functional boards that help quickly implement various functions such as motor control, LED lighting, power management, audio and connectivity. Dedicated APIs are available for each board to control the features and facilitate communication, all without having a deep knowledge of the semiconductor devices employed or their datasheets. The AEKD System Solution Demonstrators provide direct access to pre-assembled system-demonstrator boards, as well as board kits and non-electronic hardware assemblies such as car-like components and loads to help users closely emulate the desired solution.

For more information: http://www.st.com/autodevkit.