General Dynamics Broadband Turbocharges Automotive Electronics with Support for Freescale i.MX 6 Quad for IVI Applications

CHICAGO, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics Broadband, a leading provider of embedded virtualization software for mobile and connected devices, today announced immediate availability of a new Software Development Kit (SDK) for the company's OKL4 Microvisor, enabling automotive manufacturers and other OEMs to target In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) and other applications with the four-core Freescale i.MX 6 Quad system on chip.

Automotive OEMs face an array of technical and financial challenges in bringing vehicles to market.  In particular, they need to offer unique experiences for both drivers and passengers while ensuring safe and reliable vehicle performance, delivered on time and within budget.  Building next-generation IVI systems with OKL4 and the Freescale i.MX 6 Quad helps manufacturers meet the stringent requirements of the automotive marketplace while reducing manufacturing costs by consolidating multiple dedicated processors in legacy designs. Using embedded virtualization also gives automotive OEMs the ability to offer a more open and engaging user experience (UX) by supporting the latest consumer applications and multimedia technologies, without compromising the safety or reliability of core vehicle "head unit" functions like rear-view camera and navigation systems.

"The automotive industry and other intelligent device segments turn to advanced silicon and software – the Freescale i.MX6 Quad and the OKL4 Microvisor – to bring consumers unique and differentiating user experiences," noted Steve Subar, vice president and general manager of Secure Mobility for General Dynamics Broadband.  "Building next generation IVI systems on the foundation of OKL4 helps OEMs re-invent car multimedia while preserving investments in safety and certification."

"We are pleased that the OKL4 Microvisor now supports our latest family of multimedia application processors," said David Patterson, vice president and general manager of Freescale's Multimedia Applications Division. "Virtualization enables our customers to quickly and cost-effectively develop automotive infotainment products that mix safety- or security-critical environments with rich consumer multimedia experiences."

OKL4 for Freescale i.MX6 Quad

The OKL4 Microvisor SDK encompasses a range of capabilities relevant to automotive OEMs, including:

• Integration of diverse separate software environments on a single processor, each in a distinct secure environment (cell)
• Simultaneous hosting of multiple popular embedded operating systems, including Linux, Android, QNX and AUTOSAR, each in its own protected cell
• Fine-grained and rigorous access control across cells, with OKL4 Microvisor leveraging processor hardware to enforce security policy, with secure sharing of display, audio, storage, networking and other peripherals
• High performance, with fast booting and rebooting of individual cells, and deterministic responsiveness for real-time applications, even under heavy system load
• Efficient utilization of multi-core CPUs via dynamic SMP balancing

The OKL4 Microvisor SDK for i.MX6 Quad also includes an IVI reference design with implementation example for real-world automotive applications systems.

The Freescale i.MX6

The i.MX6 series of applications processors unleashes a scalable multicore platform that includes single-, dual- and quad-core families based on the ARM® Cortex™-A9 architecture for next-generation consumer, industrial and automotive applications. By combining the power-efficient processing capabilities of the ARM Cortex-A9 architecture with bleeding edge 3D and 2D graphics, as well as high-definition video, the i.MX6 series provides a new level of multimedia performance to enable an unbounded next-generation user experience.  The i.MX 6 Quad is a four-core ARM Cortex-A9 based processor running at 1.2 GHz with a 1 MB L2 cache, 2D/3D graphics engines and integrated SATA II support.

Key Facts

• General Dynamics Broadband is releasing a new version of the OKL4 Microvisor SDK optimized to target automotive applications with the Freescale i.MX 6 Quad four-core chipset
• Embedding OKL4 in IVI designs helps OEMs cut costs through hardware consolidation, create more open and user-friendly devices while also helping to assure safe and reliable operation

General Dynamics Broadband, a subsidiary of General Dynamics C4 Systems, is a leader in the critical communications industry delivering wireless broadband solutions and security to enable operational scenarios within public safety, critical infrastructure, defense and enterprise markets globally. 

With General Dynamics' recent acquisition of OK Labs®, General Dynamics Broadband is now a global leader in virtualization software for securing wireless communications, applications and content. Its software is deployed on more than 1.6 billion devices worldwide, enabling security for wireless access of corporate and government assets while protecting everything that runs on the device. Chipset suppliers, mobile and automotive OEMs, national security agencies and contractors, mobile network operators, and enterprise IT depend on General Dynamics Broadband Secure Mobility technologies and products to deliver high-assurance solutions that decrease cost, reduce complexity and speed time-to-market.

More information on General Dynamics Broadband products and services is available at
www.gd-broadband.com and www.ok-labs.com.

Visit the General Dynamics Broadband blog.

Tags

Automotive, IVI, Mobile Virtualization, OKL4, i.MX6Q

OK Labs®, is a registered trademark of Open Kernel Labs or its affiliates in the United States. MicroVisor™ is a trademark of Open Kernel Labs or its affiliates in the United States. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE General Dynamics Broadband