NXP S32K3 can directly connect to AWS cloud services

【Lansheng Technology Information】NXP Semiconductors has integrated Amazon Cloud Services into its widely adopted S32K3 family of automotive microcontrollers for body control, zone control and electrification applications, further extending support for secure cloud connectivity on NXP’s S32 automotive computing platform. Automotive processing solutions such as the S32K3, S32Z/E, S32G2 and S32G3 now provide end-to-end automotive data solutions, enabling new in-vehicle and secure cloud services.

NXP S32K3, which integrates cloud connectivity, uses the FreeRTOS library and supports AWS IoT Core, which can speed up the development of software-defined cars, help achieve secure cloud connections, and provide insights, services, and OTA upgrades based on vehicle data. The software library also enables seamless connectivity between S32K3 and devices running AWS IoT Greengrass.

Secure cloud connectivity services help enable a new generation of data-driven advanced automotive experiences and create new revenue points. Through secure access to cloud services and machine learning, full vehicle data can be accessed and processed in real time, allowing smart cars to be continuously improved through wireless remote upgrades. Automakers gain insights into vehicle performance and operation, driving behavior, traffic patterns and more. Likewise, end users benefit from extended vehicle life and rich functionality. The travel business can leverage efficient cloud connection support to quickly innovate and provide new applications. For example, collecting and analyzing data can lead to new revenue streams, including services such as usage-based insurance.

In 2020, NXP announced a partnership with AWS to achieve the integration of AWS IoT services and the NXP S32G in-vehicle network processor for service-based gateways. NXP's S32 device software with AWS cloud solutions supports a range of communications technologies and can be used with wireless connectivity technologies such as 4G/5G cellular networks and Wi-Fi. Now, NXP S32K3 devices can connect directly to AWS cloud services, or to more powerful S32G devices using AWS cloud services such as AWS IoT Core, AWS IoT Greengrass or AWS IoT FleetWise.

By extending AWS connectivity to S32K3, automotive OEMs have the flexibility to integrate AWS cloud connectivity into their vehicles and support architectural transitions, regardless of the architecture used. These include architectures where the S32K3 is used primarily as an end node or zone controller and assists the S32G automotive network processor; and configurations with multiple S32K devices but no S32G processor (with at least one S32K3 acting as a gateway to access AWS cloud services) .

The combination of NXP S32 automotive computing platform and AWS cloud connection is suitable for a variety of different travel scenarios. For example, S32K3 devices connect directly to the cloud for small vehicles such as electric bicycles and motorcycles. Among them, the S32K3 device is used as an aggregator or master controller.