(2) High level of extensibility for use with a wide range of automotive computing applications

The new R-Car starter kits provide the primary peripheral interfaces essential to automotive computing development, including Ethernet, audio in/out, display outputs, USB, and JTAG. There is also a 440-pin expansion port that enables use of all the peripheral pins of the R-Car SoC. This expansion connector, when used with an expansion board with peripheral functions to match the development requirements and application, enables the starter kits to be employed for a wide range of computing applications, from a simple advanced computer vision development environment to prototyping of large-scale systems such as integrated cockpits. In addition, multiple R-Car starter kits can be combined to create a large-scale computing environment, for instance combining multiple R-Car H3 starter kits for autonomous vehicle software platform development. This reduces the time needed for hardware development while maintaining a high degree of software portability and reusability.

(3) Highly accessible kits that enable system engineers to get started with their development right away, anywhere and anytime

The R-Car starter kits will be easily obtainable from Avnet and Marutsu Elec, in addition to Renesas sales companies and agents. Bulk orders of several hundred units can also be accommodated to meet the trend toward larger scale and globalization in automotive software development. The R-Car starter kits make it easy for engineers to get started right away, anywhere and anytime.

(4) New R-Car M3 SoC optimized for high-volume automotive computing systems

The R-Car M3 SoC incorporated into the R-Car Starter Kit Pro has functions and performance optimized for use in high-volume infotainment and 3D digital cluster applications. This means the R-Car M3 can be utilized to meet a variety of user requirements for use in a wide range of automotive computing devices. It is also software-compatible with the existing high-end R-Car H3 SoC. Therefore, the same software can be used with both of the new R-Car starter kits. The R-Car M3 is available in a single-chip version and an SiP module version equipped with DDR memory. As faster connection speeds between SoC and DDR memory become the norm and the number of signal connections increases, the design aspects related to the connection become more difficult. The availability of a SiP module reduces the design workload for the customer.

The new R-Car starter kits are part of Renesas’ commitment to supporting global and speedy software development for the automotive community. Renesas has been working with over 180 partner companies in the R-Car Consortium to deliver solutions for in-vehicle infotainment systems and advanced driving safety support systems.

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the R-Car M3 SoC are available now. The R-Car Starter Kit Pro (M3) and Starter Kit Premier (H3) are scheduled to be available at the end of October 2016. The R-Car Starter Kit Pro will be priced at US$499, and the R-Car Starter Kit Premier will be priced at US$799. Both will be available for purchase from a variety of online retailers, in addition to Renesas sales companies and agents. (Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.)

For more information on Renesas, follow Renesas Electronics America at @RenesasAmerica on Twitter and http://www.facebook.com/RenesasAmerica.

(Note 1) Open-source communities are not-for-profit organizations that develop, improve, and disseminate information about open-source software, which is software for which the source code is made available publically at no charge.

(Note 2) Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) and GENIVI are organizations that develop and promote open-source Linux-based in-vehicle infotainment system software.

(Note 3) Cognitive computing requires precise processing in real time of large amounts of information input from sensors such as vehicle cameras.

About Renesas Electronics America Inc.

Renesas Electronics America Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723), the world's number one supplier of microcontrollers and a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions including microcontrollers, SoC solutions, and a broad range of analog and power devices. More information about the products offered by Renesas Electronics America can be found at http://am.renesas.com.

Remarks: ARM and Cortex are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. PowerVR is a trademark of Imagination Technologies Limited. Android is a registered trademark from Google Inc. QNX, neutrino and Blackberry are trademarks from BlackBerry Limited, and are used with permission from QNX Software System Limited. Green Hills Software and INTEGRITY are trademarks or registered trademarks of Green Hills Software, Inc. in the U.S. and/or internationally. HyperFlash is a trademark of Spansion LLC in the United States and other countries. All names of other products or services mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161019005475/en/

Voce Communications, Porter Novelli Company
Clint Gordy, 415-975-2268
Email Contact