The ARM Cortex-R is a family of 32-bitRISCARM processor cores licensed by Arm Holdings. The cores are optimized for hard real-time and safety-critical applications. Cores in this family implement the ARM Real-time profile, which is one of three architecture profiles, the other two being the Application profile implemented by the Cortex-A family and the Microcontroller profile implemented by the Cortex-M family. The ARM Cortex-R family of microprocessors currently consists of ARM Cortex-R4, ARM Cortex-R5, ARM Cortex-R7, ARM Cortex-R8, and ARM Cortex-R52.
Overview
The ARM Cortex-R is a family of ARM cores implementing the R profile of the ARM architecture; that profile is designed for high performance hard real-time and safety critical applications. It is similar to the A profile for applications processing but adds features which make it more fault tolerant and suitable for use in hard real-time and safety critical applications. Real time and safety critical features added include:
neither manufactures nor sells CPU devices based on its own designs, but rather licenses the core designs to interested parties. ARM offers a variety of licensing terms, varying in cost and deliverables. To all licensees, ARM provides an integratable hardware description of the ARM core, as well as complete software development toolset and the right to sell manufactured silicon containing the ARM CPU.
Silicon customization
Integrated device manufacturers receive the ARM Processor IP as synthesizableRTL. In this form, they have the ability to perform architectural level optimizations and extensions. This allows the manufacturer to achieve custom design goals, such as higher clock speed, very low power consumption, instruction set extensions, optimizations for size, debug support, etc. To determine which components have been included in a particular ARM CPU chip, consult the manufacturer datasheet and related documentation.
Applications
The Cortex-R is suitable for use in computer-controlled systems where very low latency and/or a high level of safety is required. An example of a hard real-time, safety critical application would be a modern electronic braking system in an automobile. The system not only needs to be fast and responsive to a plethora of sensor data input, but is also responsible for human safety. A failure of such a system could lead to severe injury or loss of life. Other examples of hard real-time and/or safety critical applications include:
