Comparing the Heterogeneous/Asymmetric MPU options - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: tmadness
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2021, 02:58:25 am
content: I have been scoping the market for Heterogeneous/Asymmetric MPUs. My workload is real-time enough to justify a pretty fast separate MCU, however due to large amounts of data, and interfacing reasons I need a high level OS. The "traditional" option is to put a FPGA and a standard MPU, however, my expertise lies more in the MCU side of stuff and the real time aspects of my project don't need anything specially from the FPGA.My solution, therefore, is to go for a integrated, "low development cost" alternative in the form of a MPU with a Heterogeneous/Asymmetric architecture (cortex A + cortex M typically). There seem to be various options available from all the big players, but two seem to really peek my interest: the TI Sitara AM572X (AKA beagle bone AI) and NXP IMX 8 Plus. There are advantages on both sides, eg TI has more real-time cores, NXP has more recent powerful cortex A cores etc.But I'd like to know how quality the development ecosystem for these processors are.How is the documentation? I have worked on the NXP RT MCUs and the documentation is decent, although some of their peripherals get really complicated.How similar or dissimilar are the peripherals on the NXP IMX 8's cortex M7 compared to the IMX RT series?How well have the data sharing / communications interfaces been implemented between the cores? I plan on using RPMsg and shared memory how has your experience been with these use cases?Anything else I should know or care about?

author: lucazader
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2021, 04:39:03 am
content: I dont have experience in this style of processor.However ST do have a processor that has an A + M core. with peripherals from their MCU line.Again i dotn have experience with them but might be worth checking out:https://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers-microprocessors/stm32mp1-series.html

author: FlyingDutch
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2021, 02:17:31 pm
content: Hello,I made one project based (hardware) on STM32MP157C (dual ARM Cortex-A7 cores and ARM Cortex-M4 core). On two ARM Cortex-A7 cores had been booted up Linux(OpenSTLinux) and on Cortex-A4 core real-time application. I used "CAN FD" (in compatibility mode with CAN 2) for comunication with hardware modules based on STM32F107 (up to 8 in full system). There was GUI application (developed in GTK and C) running on Linux OS. GUI application purpose was settings parameters of system and displaying system state on monitor with touch interface.For system dewelopment I had been using such board:https://kamami.pl/en/retired-products/574376-stm32mp157c-dk2-starter-kit-with-stm32mp157c-microprocessor.htmland in production SOM modules from "SO(MLabs" company (with custom PCB) - see link:https://wiki.somlabs.com/index.php?title=VisionSOM-STM32MP1It took me about one year to develop all code, and I have many issues with build environoment (I used "System Workbench for STM32" and LINUX build sytem deliverd by STM). I made all development under Debian Linux on PCX-Box. IMHO STM32MP157C is good choice for robust application (of course it depends of system complexity and required performance).Best Regards