- High-integrity processors – Software tools – Protection systems – Training - Custom designs - Consultancy -

TTE32 processors are intended for use in automotive systems (electric, hybrid, petrol, diesel), aircraft (manned and UAVs), medical equipment, industrial control, space systems and other high-reliability applications. When employed as an alternative to traditional “Commercial-Off-The-Shelf” (COTS) hardware solutions in such sectors, TTE32 processors can greatly simplify design, test and certification activities.

Based on a 32-bit architecture with 32-registers and a five-stage pipeline, TTE32 cores have been designed “from the ground up” to provide guaranteed memory-access and instruction-execution times. As a consequence, TTE32 processor cores provide an ideal platform for designs which require precise “worst-case execution time” (WCET) determination and / or guaranteed CPU loading figures and / or low task jitter. Measurement resolution is at the CPU cycle level.

In addition to providing extremely predictable behaviour under normal operating conditions, most TTE32 designs incorporate a flexible (task) scheduler in hardware: this reduces CPU overheads and increases the predictability of task timing, even in the event of task overruns.

Highly-predictable behaviour

• TTE32 cores provide an ideal platform for designs which require precise “worst-case execution time” (WCET) determination and / or low task jitter. Measurement resolution is at the CPU cycle level
• Most TTE32 designs incorporate a flexible (task) scheduler in hardware: this reduces CPU overheads and increases the predictability of task timing, even in the event of task overruns.
• TTE32 cores can be provided with full support for triple-modular redundancy (TMR), in both single-core and multi-core implementations, allowing use in aerospace (and space) designs in which single-event effects (SEEs) — including single-event upsets (SEUs) — must be addressed.
• TTE32 cores can be provided with full validation and verification data for use in DO-254 / DO-178b, IEC 61508 (SIL 3), ISO 26262 (ASIL D) or other high-reliability projects.

Full software support

• TTE32 processors are fully supported by RapidiTTy® software development tools.
• Compilers for C and Ada programming languages are provided, fully integrated in the RapidiTTy toolchain.
• RapidiTTy support provides precise worst-case execution time (WCET) measurements with no software load.
• Support for worst-case execution time prediction (based on static code analysis) and full system testing (including MC/DC) can also be provided in RapidiTTy toolsets.

Future-proof performance

• To support a wide range of performance requirements and “future proof” your system design, TTE32 cores can be provided in both single-core and advanced multi-core implementations.
• Adding cores in a TTE32 design allows developers to support additional system functionality without sacrificing timing predictability in existing task sets. Full software toolsets to support the development of multi-core designs are available.
• Single- and multi-core designs can be provided with full processor design information (including complete VHDL source), ensuring that your investment is protected for many decades into the future, even in the face of inevitable developments in implementation technology.

Flexible implementation options

Building on TTE32 cores, we can provide a wide range of complete processor and microcontroller designs which are suitable for use in high-integrity applications.

For low-volume products, we can provide a “soft” microcontroller to match a suitable FPGA platform (including RAM, Flash and Anti-fuse targets).

Where required (usually for high-volume applications and / or for use in particularly hostile - for example, high radiation - environments), we can also provide ASIC implementations of TTE32 designs.

Whatever implementation route you choose, your processor design can be provided with a matched set of RapidiTTy development tools. These tools support the full code development and verification process (coding in C or Ada, debugging, static timing analysis, etc).

Work with an existing design or a customised solution

As an example of the capabilities of the TTE32 processor family, we have released the TTE32-HR2 evaluation processor.

The TTE32-HR2 design includes a fully-deterministic processor core, integrated scheduler and “task guardian” mechanism.

The TTE32-HR2 is distributed with RapidiTTy Lite and is fully supported by this tool suite.

A programming guide for the TTE32-HR2 is also available.

Need a custom design?

The TTE32-HR2 is a simple example of the type of processor design that we can supply.

We can develop fully customised designs — to meet your precise specifications — quickly and cost effectively.

Need multi-core? Rad hard? Large numbers of CAN buses? We can help.

Further information is available.

Cost-effective processor / software packages

Please consider how much you currently spend on the evaluation and purchase of off-the-shelf processors, all of the software tools you use (for system design, programming, test and verification) and staff training.

For most organisations developing high-integrity embedded systems, these sums are significant.

In many cases, we provide our processor designs on a “royalty free” basis. Where requested, we are always happy to discuss different pricing models for FPGA or ASIC targets (for example, royalty-based pricing with lower NRE costs): please contact us to discuss your particular requirements.

Please note that:

• Quoted prices do not include the supply of FPGA hardware or ASIC units.
• ASIC unit prices vary greatly depending on the required processor speed and process.
• Quoted prices do not include supply of VHDL source or “DO-254” or similar documentation.
• Quoted prices do not include UK VAT.

Want to evaluate a processor design?

We can provided full software simulations of all processor platforms prior to detailed design work: these simulators can be produced quickly, at low cost, to allow you to explore possible options for your next system design (and to compare our custom designs with COTS alternatives).

In most cases, the simulation of your custom processor will be provided in a package similar to RapidiTTy Lite.

Please contact us for further information.