Embedded platform expanded to conform to ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207

In addition it includes a new WiFi software framework to standardise and simplify connection of embedded IoT devices and the new Synergy S5D9 Group microcontrollers (MCUs) enabling secure manufacturing and communication.

Renesas will showcase several demonstrations highlighting these new updates to the Synergy Platform solutions from March 14 to 16 at embedded world 2017 (hall 4, stand 104).

Synergy is a complete embedded platform starting with an Application Programming Interface (API) to leverage a full software framework that is built around the Express Logic X-Ware. This software framework, the SSP, is qualified, maintained, supported, and warrantied by Renesas to relieve developers from creating and maintaining low-level software over and over again on each of their embedded projects. The Synergy Platform also integrates a wide range of scalable ARM Cortex-M based MCUs fully accessible through the software APIs, a development toolchain IAR Embedded Workbench with intuitive configuration assistance, plus hardware kits for development and solutions.

“Since the launch of the Synergy Platform in 2015, Renesas’ objective has been to give back time and resources to our customers so they can do what they do best – innovate and differentiate,” said Peter Carbone, Vice President of Synergy IoT Platform Business Division, Renesas Electronics. “We are now taking that to the next level by providing a complete Software Quality Assurance (SQA) documentation package for the SSP. Our customers will not only understand in detail the level of SSP software quality as a product, but they can also leverage our SQA package in proving and documenting quality in their own end-products, saving them an enormous amount of time and resources.”

Renesas is also striving to save system developers’ resources by introducing a means to easily add WiFi connectivity no matter what chipset or module is used. That, plus a new Synergy MCU Group of devices, enable customers to reach even more secure embedded applications. The Synergy Platform is organic and continues to grow in value to developers.

SSP v1.2.0 and documented software quality
Software quality is a crucial aspect of the lifecycle of any product using embedded MCUs. To ensure that the SSP is of production-ready quality, the SSP is developed according to a documented and audited SQA process following established ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 international standards that cover the entire SSP Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

The SQA process includes daily static and dynamic testing of the SSP using more than 8,000 test cases to ensure:

• 100% test coverage of all code statements, branches, and jumps
• Compliance to Renesas and MISRA C:2012 mandatory coding guidelines
• Low code complexity for good readability, testability, maintenance
• Code behaviour matches requirements
• Clean builds with no warnings and no errors

The SSP is not released unless these criteria have passed. 

Starting with SSP version 1.2.0, the SQA process, tests, and test results are published by Renesas for every minor SSP release. Publicly available are the Synergy Software Quality Handbook outlining the entire SDLC process, and a Synergy Software Quality Summary report with qualification test results. Additional detailed SQA documentation and test artifacts are available to customers under a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). This documentation will significantly reduce time and effort for customers needing to certify or otherwise document their own processes from a quality perspective.

Synergy WiFi framework
Integration of wireless connectivity into embedded systems is challenging and requires support and documentation from multiple sources – WiFi chipset or module makers, software protocol providers, and even development tool vendors to achieve successful integration.

The Synergy WiFi Framework removes those barriers for application developers. The Synergy WiFi Framework provides hardware abstraction through a set of uniform APIs for common WiFi functions, independent of the WiFi hardware used. This enables developers to quickly evaluate and add WiFi technology from various vendors without having to adapt their applications to different APIs.

Customers can access the Synergy WiFi Framework and supported device drivers on the Synergy Gallery. Currently the framework supports the Longsys GT202 WiFi module using the QCA4002 chipset. Support for additional WiFi chipsets and modules will continue to be added to the Synergy Gallery over the coming months.

Synergy S5D9 Group MCUs
Synergy S5D9 Group MCUs, the first devices in the Synergy S5 Series, deliver performance, functionality, and security features needed for embedded and IoT applications. Enabled by the SSP and solution from Renesas’ partners, developers will be able to establish a root-of-trust on each MCU to begin a chain-of-trust that spans from manufacturing through connection to deployed products. Specific features on these MCUs include a 120MHz ARM Cortex-M4 MCU core, up to 2MB of on-chip flash memory and 640KB of SRAM, a TFT-LCD controller, precision analogue acquisition, Ethernet interface, and High-Speed USB. Specialised on-chip security features include the ability to generate and safely store private keys using symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, a True Random Number Generator (TRNG), and special memory protection functions.