TDA4VM Jacinto™ Processor

Texas Instruments' TDA4VM is a processor device that is based on the evolutionary Jacinto 7 architecture, targeted for ADAS and autonomous vehicle (AV) applications, and built on the extensive market knowledge of TI leadership. The unique combination of high-performance computing, deep-learning engine, and dedicated accelerators for signal and image processing in a functional safety-compliant targeted architecture make this processor well-suited for industrial applications such as robotics, machine vision, radars, and more. The TDA4VM provides high-performance computing for traditional and deep-learning algorithms at industry-leading power/performance ratios with a high level of system integration to enable scalability and lower costs for advanced automotive platforms supporting multiple sensor modalities in centralized ECUs or standalone sensors. Key cores include next-gen DSP with scalar and vector cores, dedicated deep learning and traditional algorithm accelerators, Arm® and GPU processors for general computing, an integrated next-gen imaging subsystem (ISP), video codec, Ethernet hubs, and isolated MCU islands. The device is protected by automotive-grade safety and security hardware accelerators.

The C7x next-gen DSP combines TI’s industry-leading DSP and EVE cores into a single higher-performance core and adds floating-point vector calculation capabilities, enabling backward compatibility for the legacy code while simplifying software programming. The matrix multiply accelerator (MMA) deep-learning accelerator enables performance of up to eight TOPS within a very low power envelope when operating at the typical automotive worst-case junction temperature of +125°C. The dedicated ADAS/AV hardware accelerators provide vision pre-processing plus distance and motion processing with no impact on system performance.

The separate dual-core cluster configuration of Arm Cortex®-A72 facilitates multi-OS applications with minimal need for a software hypervisor. Up to six Arm Cortex-R5F subsystems enable low-level, timing-critical processing tasks to leave the Arm Cortex-A72’s unencumbered for applications. The integrated 8XE GE8430 GPU offers up to 100 GFLOPS enabling a dynamic 3D rendering for enhanced viewing applications. TI’s 7th-generation ISP includes the flexibility to process a broader sensor suite, support for higher bit depth, and features for analytics applications. The integrated diagnostics and safety features support operations up to ASIL-D/SIL-3 levels while the integrated security features protect data against attacks. To enable systems requiring heavy data bandwidth, a PCIe hub and Gigabit Ethernet switch are included along with CSI-2 ports to support throughput for many sensor inputs. The TDA4VM also includes a microcontroller (MCU) island eliminating the need for an external system MCU.