Dream Chip and Cadence demo automotive SoC at embedded world 2024

The advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) application software, operating on the Tensilica AI IP within the Dream Chip development board, was a highlight of Cadence's booth during the exhibition held in Nuremberg, Germany, 9–11 April 9 2024.

This innovative SoC utilises the GlobalFoundries 22FDX technology platform, which is ready and proven for energy-efficient automotive customers. The SoC is designed in a publicly funded project, ZuSE-KI-Mobil (ZuKIMo). ZuKIMo focuses on developing an AI accelerator system on chip (SoC) for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Manufactured in Dresden, Germany, the SoC supports the local European semiconductor supply chain for automotive applications.

The Cadence verification, implementation, and signoff solutions enable automotive designers to quickly deliver first-time silicon success while achieving safety, quality, and reliability goals, enabling certification up to ISO 26262 ASIL-D, with minimal impact on system power, performance, and area (PPA) targets. This SoC leverages the capabilities of Cadence verification and RTL-to-GDS digital full-flow solutions, meticulously fine-tuned to meet the stringent safety, quality, and reliability standards required in the automotive industry.

It also leverages the optimal ADAS features with Tensilica Vision P6 DSP and AI cores by incorporating Tensilica AI processors and a sophisticated array of Digital IP controllers. These include Cadence’s pioneering NPU AI IP, multi-functional Ethernet 10/100/1G MAC, essential control features such as SPI and RTC Control, and SD 6.0/eMMC 5.1 Host Controller and PHY. This strategic integration of hardware is designed to power energy-efficient ADAS applications that utilise evolving technologies like LiDAR, radar, and vision-based systems at the Edge, significantly enhancing the automotive-grade quality, safety, and reliability of autonomous, connected and electrified (ACE) vehicles.

Commenting on the milestone, Dr. Jens Benndorf, Managing Director and CEO of Dream Chip Technologies, said: “We collaborated closely with Cadence to provide a full automotive solution highlighting Cadence Tensilica AI-at-the-edge performance along with functional safety and the latest image signal processing to automotive OEMs and Tier-1s. Dream Chip fully implemented and signed-off the energy-efficient automotive SoC from architecture spec to running software using the Cadence Verification solution along with the Cadence Digital EDA full-flow on the GlobalFoundries 22FDX process, showing that Dream Chip is an optimal design house choice for advanced automotive SoCs.”

David Glasco, VP of research and development, Compute Solutions Group at Cadence, added: “The choice of Tensilica IP by the ZuKIMo coalition along with Cadence’s focus on design innovation and excellence across all aspects of the safety-critical and high-reliability IP and the design and verification flow has resulted in this powerful ADAS demo.”

The embedded world demo highlighted the advanced SoC capabilities, demonstrating the power and flexibility of Cadence’s Tensilica IP in driving optimal ADAS features with the industry-leading Vision and AI cores.