New General-Purpose 32-bit RISC-V MCUs with Internally Developed CPU Core

26 March 2024 - 0 Comments

Renesas Electronics Corporation has introduced the first general-purpose 32-bit RISC-V-based microcontrollers (MCUs) built with an internally developed CPU core. Renesas has independently designed and tested a new RISC-V core, now implemented in a commercial product and available globally. The new R9A02G021 group of MCUs provides embedded systems designers with a clear path to developing a wide range of power-conscious, cost-sensitive applications based on the open-source instruction set architecture (ISA). The R9A02G021 group MCUs are designed to serve multiple end markets, such as IoT sensors, consumer electronics, medical devices, small appliances, and industrial systems. Designers will have access to a full-scale development environment for the R9A02G021, provided by Renesas and its network of toolchain partners, enabling cost reduction, conservation of engineering resources, and faster development time.

Renesas aims to offer products that enable customers to swiftly transition to mass production, emphasizing the advantages of the RISC-V architecture. The introduction of the new RISC-V MCU expands the options available to customers seeking products with open architecture. They have developed a variety of RISC-V application-specific products, including voice-control and motor-control ASSP devices, as well as RZ/Five 64-bit general-purpose microprocessors (MPUs). The R9A02G021 group represents the initial wave of general-purpose MCUs based on Renesas' internally developed RISC-V core, with plans for further releases in the coming years.