AI, Rust and C/C++ for Automotive Innovations: HighTec Demonstrates Multi-Architecture, Multi-Language Development Platform
As vehicle architectures evolve toward centralized and software-defined systems, automotive developers require flexible toolchains that support heterogeneous hardware platforms, modern programming approaches, and emerging workloads such as AI and model-based development. With the HighTec Rust and C/C++ Development Platform, HighTec EDV-Systeme demonstrates for the first time how a single LLVM-based compiler environment supports modern automotive software development with a unified workflow across multiple processor architectures and programming languages like Rust and C/C++. In addition, the platform enables developers to efficiently deploy AI models based on the standardized ONNX format as well as model-based control algorithms to innovate even faster.
Optimized for AI and Model-Based Development
The automotive-grade HighTec Rust and C/C++ Development Platform supports Model-Based Design (MBD) and AI-based workloads that are increasingly used in advanced automotive systems. The compiler generates optimized code for Parallel Processing Units (PPUs) integrated in Infineon AURIX MCUs, enabling efficient execution of compute-intensive control algorithms directly on automotive microcontrollers. For Data Flow Accelerators (DFAs), the platform provides unique support by generating target-optimized code directly from MATLAB models, allowing algorithms to run significantly faster e.g. on the host CPU. In addition, an ONNX2C tool enables developers to seamlessly generate highly optimized C code from trained ONNX neural network models using advanced graph optimization and quantization techniques. This allows efficient integration of AI models with existing C/C++ code on automotive hardware and hence maintains deterministic behavior required for safety-critical systems.
One Platform for Multiple Automotive Architectures
The HighTec development platform provides a unified compiler environment for a wide range of automotive processor architectures. This includes Infineon TriCore™ / AURIX™ TC4x MCUs, Renesas RH850 microcontrollers, ARM® Cortex®-A/R/M processors and RISC-V architectures, e.g. RT-Europa Platform from Quintauris for safety-critical automotive applications. HighTec’s multi-architecture support enables automotive software developers to maintain a consistent development workflow across different ECU platforms while optimizing software for each target architecture.
Rust and C/C++ for Future-ready Automotive Software
The HighTec Rust and C/C++ Development Platform furthermore enables developers to integrate new software components written in modern Rust with legacy C/C++ code. This hybrid development approach allows automotive software teams to introduce a new memory-safe programming language while maintaining proven software components and established automotive software workflows.
Automotive-grade Open-Source Technology
The HighTec Rust and C/C++ Development Platform is based on the latest open-source compiler technology LLVM 19. The toolchain is qualified according to the highest automotive functional safety standard ISO 26262 up to ASIL D and supports compliance with the cybersecurity standard ISO 21434. This combination allows developers to adopt advanced programming languages and development methods while meeting the stringent reliability and security requirements of automotive systems.
Comments
“Especially now in the era of software-defined vehicles, automotive software development is becoming increasingly heterogeneous,” said Mario Cupelli, CTO of HighTec EDV-Systeme GmbH. “Developers need flexible toolchains that support multiple processor architectures, programming languages, and modern workloads such as AI and model-based design. Our safety-qualified HighTec Rust and C/C++ Development Platform addresses this need with a unified compiler environment.”
For more information on the HighTec Rust and C/C++ Development Platform, please visit www.hightec-rt.com/products/development-platform.