The optional Cortex-M33 processor allows customers to combine real-time control with communication functions and non-real-time operations on a single chip, saving costs, power, and board space.
The RA8T2 MCUs leverage the high performance of the Arm Cortex-M85 processor and Arm's Helium™ technology to deliver a significant performance boost in digital signal processor (DSP) and machine learning (ML) implementations. This added performance enables AI functions that can predict motor maintenance requirements, reducing costly downtime.
In addition to their exceptional processing power, the RA8T2 MCUs provide high-speed network support through multiple communication interfaces, including two Gigabit Ethernet MACs with DMA, a two-port EtherCAT slave, and many others. High-speed communication is critical in factory automation, where every device is connected to a network within the factory and constantly synchronizes with other machines to send and receive commands and data.
The RA8T2 devices are equipped with up to 1 MB of high-speed, non-volatile MRAM (magnoresistive random access memory) with a 100 MHz access speed. MRAM offers faster write speeds, along with greater endurance and retention compared to Flash memory. In addition, the RA8T2 is equipped with a TCM (tight-coupled memory) with 256 KB for Cortex-M85 and 128 KB for Cortex-M33. The TCM provides users with high-precision, real-time performance with less jitter and can deliver stable performance in motor control processing with many interrupts and branches.
Optimized Feature Set for Motor Control:
The new RA8T2 devices include a timer function that supports PWM functionality up to 300 MHz, enabling easy handling by control software and efficient waveform generation for inverter drives. The GPT timer's complementary PWM function, optimized for inverter drives, facilitates the implementation of control algorithms such as complementary PWM output for multiple phases (including single-phase and three-phase), automatic dead-time insertion, asymmetric PWM generation, and connection to ADCs and comparators. The timer is also equipped with a phase counting function, allowing control of AC servos that require shaft position information using a two-phase pulse encoder. The RA8T2's ADC has 16-bit resolution and a channel-specific sample-and-hold function (three channels total), enabling high-precision simultaneous sampling of three-phase current values. This eliminates the need for correction processing, reducing the software load and improving control accuracy. Equipped with two units, it's possible to simultaneously sample the currents of three channels from two motors. The port output enable (POEG) function and high-speed comparator allow for rapid shutdown of the PWM output when an overcurrent is detected. The shutdown state (Hi-z, Hi, Low) can be selected according to the inverter specifications.
Main features of the RA8T2 group MCUs
Core: 1 GHz Arm Cortex-M85 with Helium and TrustZone; optional 250 MHz Arm Cortex-M33
Memory: Integrated 1 MB high-speed MRAM and 2 MB SRAM (including 256 KB TCM for the Cortex-M85 and 128 KB TCM for the M33)
Analog peripherals: Two 16-bit ADCs with 30 analog channels, two 3-channel S/H, 2-channel 12-bit DAC, 4-channel high-speed comparators
Communication peripherals: Dual Gigabit Ethernet MAC with DMA, EtherCAT slave, USB 2.0 FS Host/Device/OTG, CAN 2.0 (1 Mbps)/CAN FD (8 Mbps), I3C (12.5 Mbps), I2C (1 Mbps), SPI, SCI, octal serial peripheral interface.
Advanced security: RSIP-E50D cryptographic engine, immutable storage for FSBL, secure debugging, secure factory programming, DLM compatibility, tamper protection, DPA/SPA protection.
Timers: 14-channel PWM timers, 4-channel high-resolution timers, 4-channel low-power timers (16-bit x 2 channels and 32-bit x 2 channels).
Packages: 176-HLQFP, 224 and 289, and 303-BGA.
The new RA8T2 group MCUs are compatible with Flexible Software Package (FSP) . The FSP enables faster application development by providing all the necessary infrastructure software, including multiple RTOSs, BSPs, peripheral drivers, middleware, connectivity, networking, and security stacks, as well as reference software for building complex AI, motor control, and cloud solutions. It allows customers to integrate their own legacy code and choice of RTOSs with the FSP, thus providing complete flexibility in application development. Using the FSP will facilitate the migration of existing designs to the new RA8 series devices.
