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[FAQ] How do C2000™︎ real-time MCUs fit in Automotive LiDAR applications?

This FAQ is designed to give a high-level overview of how C2000 real-time MCUs fit in Automotive LiDAR systems. 

  1.  What is Automotive LiDAR?
    1. Application for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and/or high-level autonomous driving, used to create 3D model of the scene around the vehicle
      1. See TI's system block diagram here: https://www.ti.com/solution/automotive-mechanically-scanning-lidar 
      2. Functional diagram:
        1.  
      3. Heat map (image created from LiDAR data): 
  2. Where does C2000Tm MCU fit in LiDAR application?
    1. Sensing: reads position sensor signal, decodes position sensor signal / converts to digital signal, sends to main controller
      1. Recommended C2000Tm MCU: F280015x, F28002x, F28003x
    2. Sensing + multi-axle motor control: same functions as above + driving multiple motors (usually 2, BLDC or stepper) and also handles synchronization
      1. Recommended C2000Tm MCU: F28003x
    3. Sensing + multi-axle motor control + laser beam control: same functions as above + on/off control of laser beam through HRPWM
      1. Recommended C2000Tm MCU: F2837x, F2838x 
  3. What are the key care-abouts within a LiDAR system, and how does the C2000Tm real-time MCU portfolio address them?
    1. Efficient motor control and laser beam control
      1. Synchronizing speeds between slower speed motor and higher speed motor enabled by real-time control capabilities
      2. HRPWM handles high-resolution timing for beam control
    2. Scalability / flexibility
      1. Handle several different types of functions: from sensing only, up to sensing + multi-motor control + laser beam control
      2. Accepting various types of sensors including hall sensors, magnetic sensors, and others
      3. Scalable portfolio covering wide range of LiDAR use-cases: Low-end requirements (QM safety) up to ASIL D on roadmap
    3. Communication with FPGA
      1. Supports various communication peripherals to support varying customer requirements: FSI (Fast Serial Interface), EMIF, Ethernet, more