NXP’s S32K3 automotive MCUs with AWS cloud services

What’s new: NXP Semiconductors extends its support for secure cloud connectivity across the NXP S32 vehicle compute platform by integrating Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud services into its widely-adopted S32K3 automotive microcontroller series for body, zone control, and electrification applications. The end-to-end vehicle data solution now spans across the automotive processing solutions S32K3, S32Z/E, S32G2 and S32G3, enabling new in-vehicle and secure cloud services. Using FreeRTOS libraries supporting AWS IoT Core, NXP’s S32K3 with integrated cloud connectivity speeds up the development time for software-defined vehicles (SDVs) to securely connect to the cloud and deliver vehicle data-driven insights and services and over-the-air (OTA) updates. The software libraries also enable seamless connectivity between the S32K3 and devices running AWS IoT Greengrass.

Why it matters: Secure cloud connectivity services will fuel a new era of advanced, data-driven automotive experiences and revenue streams. Access to and processing of real-time, vehicle-wide data with secure access to cloud services and machine learning can enable intelligent vehicles that continually improve with over-the-air updates. Automakers can gain insights into vehicle performance and health, driver behaviour, traffic patterns, and more. Similarly, end consumers can benefit from the extended longevity of their vehicles and added features. Mobility businesses can exploit the streamlined cloud connectivity support to quickly innovate and offer new applications. For example, the data collected and analysed can lead to new revenue streams with services such as usage-based insurance.

More details: In 2020, NXP announced their work with AWS which resulted in the integration of AWS IoT services with NXP’s S32G vehicle network processor for service-oriented gateways. The NXP S32 devices’ software with AWS cloud solution supports a range of communication technologies and can be used with wireless connectivity technologies like 4G/5G cellular and Wi-Fi. Now NXP S32K3 devices can connect directly to AWS cloud services or a more powerful S32G device using AWS cloud services such as AWS IoT Core, AWS IoT Greengrass or AWS IoT FleetWise.

Extending AWS connectivity to S32K3 gives automotive OEMs the flexibility to build AWS cloud connectivity into their vehicles regardless of the vehicle architecture used and supports the vehicle architecture transition. This includes architectures in which the S32K3 acts primarily as an end node or zonal controller and supplements an S32G vehicle network processor, as well as configurations with multiple S32K devices without an S32G processor, with at least one S32K3 acting as a gateway to access AWS cloud services.

The combination of NXP’s S32 vehicle compute platform and AWS cloud connectivity is appropriate for different mobility types. For instance, the direct connection of the S32K3 devices to the cloud is suitable for smaller vehicles such as electric bicycles and scooters. Here, the S32K3 devices act as the aggregator or main controller.