What is Hercules? | Safety Features in Hardware | Hercules Development Kits | Hercules Software | Hercules Safety MCUs

What is Hercules?

Hercules safety microcontrollers are based on TI's 20+ years of safety-critical system expertise, industry collaboration and proven hardware for the automotive market. The platform consists of three ARM® Cortex™-based microcontroller families (RM48x, TMS570 and TMS470M) that deliver scalable performance, connectivity, memory and safety features. Unlike many microcontrollers that rely heavily on software for safety capabilities, Hercules microcontrollers implement safety in hardware to maximize performance and reduce software overhead.

• Hercules Product Brochure

Product Portfolio
Devices are available today for all 3 Hercules product families with additional memory and peripheral options planned.

Back to Top

RM4x Family
The RM48x is the highest performance Hercules Safety microcontroller family. Based on the ARM® Cortex™-R4F floating point core running at up to 220 MHz it includes several flash memory and connectivity options. Developed with the capability to meet the requirements of the IEC 61508 SIL-3 safety standard and supporting many functional safety features integrated in hardware.

TMS570LS Family
The Hercules TMS570LS safety microcontroller family enables customers to easily develop safety-critical products for transportation applications. Developed to the requirements of the ISO 26262ASIL D and IEC 61508 SIL-3 safety standards and qualified to the AEC-Q100 automotive specification this ARM® Cortex™-R4F-based family offers several options of performance, memory and connectivity.

TMS470M Family
The TMS470M safety microcontroller family is based on the widely adopted ARM® Cortex™-M3 CPU running at 80 MHz. The family offers several fl ash and RAM memory options and provide CAN and LIN connectivity along with flexible control peripherals. Built-in safety features include CPU and RAM self-test (BIST) engines, ECC and parity-checking. The TMS470M safety microcontrollers are also AEC-Q100 qualified.

Safety Features in Hardware

The RM48x and TMS570 dual-CPU lockstep architecture simplifies development while eliminating redundant system requirements to reduce cost. CPU hardware built-in self test (BIST) detects latent defects without complex safety software and code-size overhead. Hardware comparison of CPU outputs provides nearly instant safety response time without any additional performance impact. ECC logic is integrated in the CPU to protect both memories and busses. All RAM memories can be tested using HW BIST for high diagnostic coverage and an integrated Memory Protection Unit (MPU) helps protect against deterministic errors in application software.

Back to Top

Hercules Development Kits

TI offers a variety of Hercules development kits designed to accelerate and simplify the development process. Each development kit comes with documentation, hardware schematics, and code examples.

TMDXRM48HDK RM48x Development Kit w/ Ethernet & USB  Order Online

TMDX570LS31HDK TMS570LS31x Development Kit w/ Ethernet & CAN  Order Online

TMDX470MF066HDK TMDX470MF066HDK TMS470M Development Kit w/ 2 CAN interfaces  Order Online

TMDXRM48USB RM4x USB Stick  Order Online

TMDX570LS31USB TMS570LS31 USB Stick  Order Online

TMDX470MF066USB TMS470M USB Stick  Order Online

All Hercules Development Kits include on board XDS100v2, Code Composer Studio, HALCoGen configuration tool, demos and examples

Back to Top

Hercules Software

TI makes it easy to get started developing software on any Hercules Safety MCU with a GUI based Hardware Abstraction Layer Code Generation tool (HALCoGen).

HALCoGen User Input on High Abstraction Level Graphical-based code generation Easy configuration Quick start for new projects Supports CCS, IAR & KEIL IDEs

Hercules Safety MCUs

With integrated safety features, development tools, and a broad range of products, Hercules MCUs make it easy for you to get started on your next safety application.

Use the Product Search to find the right Hercules Safety MCU to meet your specific needs.