Infineon and Apex.AI have collaborated to integrate the Apex.AI SDK with Infineon's AURIX TC3X microcontroller. The AURIX TC3x is an embedded safety controller that has ASIL D certification according to the 2018 ISO 26262 standard, which is the highest level of automotive functional safety.
The microcontroller is relied upon as the safety host controller for leading computing platforms used in automated driving due to its ability to provide the necessary safety and performance for ADAS. Apex.Grace, previously known as Apex.OS, is the first complete SDK that is certified to ISO 262626 ASIL D for software-defined vehicles (SDV).
With Apex.Ida, formerly known as Apex.Middleware, providing a complete and integrated solution for intra- and inter-electronic control unit (ECU) communication and communication to the cloud, the two companies have demonstrated that the development and integration of embedded safety-critical automotive applications can be significantly accelerated.
Despite the fact that ROS is the industry's de facto development standard for prototyping for robotics and mobility applications, it does not meet safety and reliability requirements for automotive systems and other safety-critical applications, creating a challenge for manufacturers. Apex.Grace, on the other hand, enables the transition from ROS-based prototypes to production-ready vehicles and is certified by TÜV Nord to ASIL D.
In addition to the integration of Apex.AI's SDK with Infineon's AURIX TC3X microcontroller, the collaboration between the two companies also aims to address challenges faced by automotive manufacturers as they transition from traditional automotive systems to software-defined vehicles (SDVs). SDVs require reliable and secure software that can manage complex interactions between different systems, while meeting stringent safety standards.
Apex.Grace is designed to meet these requirements by providing a complete software stack for SDVs, including operating system, middleware, and application software. The SDK is based on the open-source Robot Operating System (ROS), which has become a popular platform for prototyping in the robotics and mobility industries. However, ROS was not originally designed for safety-critical applications such as automotive systems. To address this, Apex.AI has developed a set of tools and processes to ensure that code developed using Apex.Grace is rigorously tested and certified to meet the highest safety standards.
By integrating Apex.Grace with Infineon's AURIX TC3X microcontroller, automotive manufacturers can leverage the benefits of both platforms to accelerate the development of software-defined vehicles. The AURIX TC3X provides a high-performance, safety-certified platform for running the Apex.Grace software stack. Together, the two platforms provide a complete solution that meets the requirements of automotive manufacturers as they transition to the era of software-defined vehicles.