Will RISC-V adoption in automotive challenge traditional paradigms?

Recent developments regarding RISC-V and its partnerships with automotive giants such as Robert Bosch GmbH, Infineon Technologies AG, NXP Semiconductors, Qualcomm Incorporated, and Nordic Semiconductor confirm that RISC-V is becoming a dominant direction in the automotive industry. RISC-V's native approach to architecture customization through software opens up broad possibilities for addressing tasks currently handled by AUTOSAR. While not a direct competitor to AUTOSAR, RISC-V can provide an alternative for many typical AUTOSAR functions.

What is RISC-V and how is it related to the automotive industry?

Typically, software chips are used to power software-powered components in vehicles or even create complex software-defined vehicles (SDVs). Such chips transformed the automotive industry by bringing software to the center of vehicle functionality. 

Many think that this is the future of the automotive industry, where safety, functionality, and user experience are all driven by software. Advanced computing, connectivity, and over-the-air updates enable such cars to be flexible, secure, and cost-effective solutions that can adapt to consumers' evolving needs.

However, these vehicles rely heavily on the processing chips that run the said software. Traditional ARM chips  cost a pretty penny and are becoming increasingly harder to come by. 

The following graph shows the total ARM-based ECUs cost breakdown between 2015 and 2024, including the total cost of software and ARM licenses. With adoption of RICS-V, the costs of software and licensing can be significantly reduced.

Here's where RISC-V comes to the rescue.

What is RISC-V?

RISC-V is an open-source, royalty-free instruction set architecture that has gained considerable attention in recent years. In addition to its high customization potential, it is also cheaper and easier to manufacture, making it an attractive choice for software-defined vehicles.

Benefits of RISC-V adoption in automotive

So, how can the adoption of chips with open-source architecture bring value to the industry? Implementing RISC-V in automotive systems offers several key advantages:

Customization and flexibility:

• Tailored solutions: RISC-V allows manufacturers to design processors specifically tailored to the needs of automobiles, optimizing performance for ADAS, infotainment systems, battery management systems (BMS), Zonal Control ECU, and many other subsystems.
• Scalability: With RISC-V, you can build applications ranging from microcontrollers to high-performance processors, enabling a unified architecture for different parts of a vehicle.

Cost efficiency:

• No licensing fees: RISC-V is open-source, eliminating expensive licensing fees associated with proprietary ISAs.
• Overall cost optimization: Breaking the monopoly of ARM-chips manufacturers and bringing open source alternatives will allow the industry to not only balance the cost of chips, but also make them more focused while cutting out the bulky proprietary software.

Performance and efficiency:

• Optimized performance: Customizable designs enable optimal power consumption and performance, essential for electric and autonomous vehicles.
• High efficiency: RISC-V is designed with a fast command pipeline architecture in the core of the microcontroller.

Compliance with automotive standards:

• Adaptability to standards: Vehicles that will be running on RISC-V chips can be designed to meet stringent automotive industry standards such as ISO 26262 for functional safety, ensuring compliance and reliability in safety-critical applications.
• Certifiable solutions: As RISC-V gains traction, more solutions, and components are being developed with automotive certifications in mind, simplifying regulatory compliance.

Security:

• Custom security features: By integrating security measures directly into processor design, automotive manufacturers can make their systems more secure against cyber attacks.
• Transparent development: Open-source development encourages transparency, allowing thorough security audits and reducing the risk of hidden vulnerabilities.
• Support from major players: Partnerships with leading automotive manufacturers and chip suppliers demonstrate industry support and readiness for RISC-V integration, ensuring long-term support and development.

Challenges of RICS-V adoption in the automotive industry

The automotive industry has its own rules and components, and some of these components are missing in RISC-V (at least as of July 2024):

1. Ecosystem maturity

The RISC-V ecosystem, while growing, is still relatively immature compared to established architectures like ARM and x86. This means fewer available development tools, middleware, and pre-existing software libraries, which can slow down development and increase the need for in-house expertise. 

2. Compatibility and integration

Integrating RISC-V with existing automotive systems and components can be challenging. Current automotive platforms are typically based on ARM or x86 architectures, and moving to RISC-V may require significant hardware and software modifications, increasing development time and cost.

3. Toolchain and debugging

Compilers, debuggers, and other development tools for RISC-V are still catching up to more established architectures. It can be challenging for developers to find robust, fully-featured tools, which may impact their productivity and ability to diagnose and resolve issues efficiently.

4. Real-time performance

Autonomous driving and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) require real-time performance and reliability. These stringent performance requirements require extensive optimization and testing to ensure that RISC-V can meet them

5. Intellectual property (IP) and licensing

In spite of RISC-V's open-source nature, integrating third-party IP for specialized functionalities (such as certain types of accelerators or peripheral controllers) may still require complex licensing agreements. Compatibility with open-source components and managing these licenses can be challenging.

6. Software portability

There can be considerable labor involved in porting existing applications, middleware, and software stacks to RISC-V. Most automotive manufacturers have extensive codebases designed for other architectures, and rewriting or adapting this software for RISC-V requires significant resources and effort.

7. Market adoption and support

Automotive adoption of RISC-V is still in its infancy. It can be challenging to get OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and regulatory bodies on board with RISC-V. The lack of established market precedent can lead to hesitancy in adopting the technology for critical automotive applications.

How N-iX sees the next steps to addressing these challenges

First, the development of basic software, including drivers for peripheral devices, network communication stacks, and diagnostic and security modules, is a priority task. It is expected that https://riscv.org/ is already working on this to provide open solutions and libraries.

Second, the integration of AUTOSAR functions, such as configuration management and network communication, is a key step.

Third, developer tools, documentation (including migration processes), and successful certification examples are crucial.

How N-iX can help you

N-iX is a global software development service company specializing in delivering innovative technology solutions for automotive applications. With over two decades of experience, N-iX offers extensive expertise in software development, technology consulting, and digital transformation. The company is renowned for its proficiency in advanced fields such as sensor fusion, automated testing, functional safety, and RISC-V solutions.

N-iX collaborates with leading automotive manufacturers and tech giants, including partnerships with AWS, GCP, and Microsoft. Their comprehensive services encompass everything from system design and product development to certification support, ensuring the highest standards of quality and safety. N-iX's commitment to innovation and excellence positions them as a trusted partner in driving the future of automotive technology​. Contact us to continue this discussion.

Recommended Reading

1. RISC-V International. (n.d.). Automotive. Retrieved from https://riscv.org/automotive/
2. Embedded Computing. (n.d.). RISC-V: Road to Automotive. Retrieved from https://embeddedcomputing.com/application/automotive/risc-v-road-to-automotive
3. SiFive. (n.d.). SiFive Cores for Automotive. Retrieved from https://www.sifive.com/cores/automotive
4. European Commission. (2016). Roadmap RISC-V. Retrieved from https://ecssria.eu/Roadmap_RISC-V_v240216_Final.pdf