R-Car H3-Based Second-Generation Solution Kit with Up to Eight Cameras Accelerates Evaluation and Development of Software for Viewing Applications

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — November 8, 2016 — Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced a new all-in-one Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) view solution kit. Expanding the success of the first-generation ADAS surround view kit that was launched on October 8, 2015, Renesas’ second-generation ADAS view solution kit with up to eight cameras realizes next-generation electronic mirrors (Note 1), driver monitoring and surround view systems all at the same time.

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Renesas Electronics All-in-One ADAS View Solution Kit for Surround View (Photo: Business Wire)

Viewing applications are seen as one of the next comfort and safety features on the road towards autonomous driving. Also, it has become a standard in autonomous driving and ADAS applications to enable sensor fusion which combines and processes the collected information from automotive cameras and radars for vehicles to recognize their surroundings. 360-degree surround view is expected to become an essential feature available in all vehicle segments. Additionally, mirrors will be replaced by cameras, and driver monitoring features will be required for autonomous driving and to increase safety. Camera-based electronic mirrors will allow object detection, the modification of viewing angles and zooming. Driver monitoring will help to build safe, autonomous driving level 3-and-beyond (Note 2) vehicles that still demand intervention by the driver in some situations, and will be able to monitor driver attention in conventional cars.

To address these changes, Renesas launched the all-in-one ADAS view solution kit that includes the recently-announced “R-Car Starter Kit Premier” automotive software development environment, which is based on the R-Car H3 system-on-chip (SoC), as well as the required sample application software for ADAS application software development and calibration software to correct distortion of the images for surround view. The up to eight automotive cameras of the solution kit allow developers to collect data from the environment for sensor fusion, being a necessary step towards autonomous drive.

The ADAS view solution kit will be showcased at hall A6, stand 342, Electronica 2016, to be held in Munich, Germany, from November 8 to November 11.

Key features of the new ADAS view solution kit:

(1) Support of up to eight cameras for surround view, electronic mirrors and driver monitoring using the R-Car Starter Kit Premier

The new ADAS view solution kit includes four cameras, however, camera functionality can be extended with four additional cameras to maximize the full camera processing capabilities. Up to eight minicube cameras from Integrated Micro-electronics, Inc. using 1.3 megapixel automotive sensors from OmniVision Technologies, Inc. are connected via a high-speed gigabit multimedia serial link (GMSL) serializer and a quad deserializer from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. This setup, paired with Renesas’ powerful “R-Car Starter Kit Premier”, simplifies the development of 360-degree surround view and implementation of cameras for electronic mirror functionality as well as for driver monitoring.

(2) All-in-one solution based on the R-Car Starter Kit Premier, with sample application and calibration software

The new ADAS view solution kit is an all-in-one solution based on the R-Car Starter Kit, including online-available sample application and calibration software which enables system developers to immediately start their development. The sample application software supports developers in the initial development period. Dynamic surround view can be achieved by using the sample application software in binary code and the GPU of the R-Car H3 that enables arbitrary viewpoints. Static surround view can be achieved without a GPU or CPU by using the calibration software that corrects image distortion and the sample software in source code. The software for static surround view uses Renesas’ image rendering (IMR) technology.

(3) High-performance development environment with the R-Car Starter Kit Premier based on the R-Car H3

• R-Car H3 high-performance GPU for high frame rate dynamic 3D surround view

The R-Car H3 features Imagination Technologies’ PowerVR™ GX6650, a powerful graphics processing unit (GPU) core. It allows 360-degree surround view with arbitrary viewpoints and high-resolution picture composition, as well as highly detailed vehicle rendering.

• IMR technology for static surround view, electronic mirrors and driver monitoring

The R-Car H3 features Renesas’ image rendering (IMR) technology that enables low-cost surround view with pre-defined viewpoints, in case the GPU has to be used for other applications or if system developers want to evaluate static surround view. The IMR is also used for zooming and perspective adjustment for electronic mirrors and driver monitoring cameras.