ST Launches First Automotive Microcontroller with AI Acceleration for Edge Intelligence
STMicroelectronics has announced a groundbreaking development with the release of the first automotive microcontroller with AI acceleration, marking a significant advancement in automotive electronics. This innovation, the Stellar P3E, combines high-performance real-time control with embedded neural processing to enable edge-based artificial intelligence within software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
The Future of Automotive AI Begins at the Edge
At the heart of the Stellar P3E is the integrated ST Neural-ART Accelerator™, a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) that delivers inference capabilities with up to 30 times the efficiency of traditional MCU cores. This enables real-time AI-powered applications such as predictive maintenance, intelligent sensing, and virtual sensors, all operating with ultra-low latency.
Incorporating automotive microcontroller with AI acceleration allows vehicle systems to perform microsecond-level decision-making directly at the edge. This reduces reliance on central processing and significantly lowers the cost and complexity of deploying advanced AI features in modern vehicles.
Key Applications in Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs)
The Stellar P3E is purpose-built for integration into X-in-1 Electronic Control Units (ECUs), which consolidate multiple vehicle functions into a single platform. This integration reduces weight, cost, and wiring complexity—essential for electric and hybrid vehicle efficiency.
Notably, the P3E supports:
- Predictive maintenance to improve vehicle reliability
- Virtual sensing for reduced sensor hardware requirements
- Always-on intelligence for dynamic software upgrades post-deployment
With a CoreMark score exceeding 8,000 and powered by 500 MHz Arm® Cortex®-R52+ cores, the microcontroller provides industry-leading real-time performance.
Advanced Architecture and Memory Innovation
Designed with a split-lock architecture, Stellar P3E optimises the balance between peak performance and functional safety. It also benefits from an open Arm ecosystem, allowing OEMs to leverage an extensive global developer base to accelerate innovation.
Memory scalability is ensured via ST’s proprietary xMemory PCM, offering twice the density of embedded flash and automotive-grade qualification. This enables OEMs to expand software functions over time without altering the hardware footprint.
Ecosystem Support and Developer Enablement
To streamline adoption, the P3E is integrated into the ST Edge AI Suite—a complete development environment supporting dataset creation, model training, and deployment. Developers can also use NanoEdge AI Studio and Stellar Studio for seamless workflow integration from prototype to production.
Production of the Stellar P3E is scheduled for Q4 2026.
Technical Specifications Snapshot
- CPU Core: 500 MHz Arm® Cortex®-R52+
- Performance: CoreMark > 8,000
- AI Inference Efficiency: Up to 30x vs standard MCUs
- Architecture: Split-lock for performance/safety trade-off
- Memory: xMemory PCM – 2x embedded flash density
- Target Use Cases: X-in-1 ECUs, zonal architectures, hybrid/EV systems
STMicroelectronics’ Stellar P3E represents a pivotal moment in automotive technology, offering the first automotive microcontroller with AI acceleration. This solution not only supports real-time edge intelligence but also simplifies vehicle system architectures, aligns with industry trends toward SDVs, and equips OEMs with the tools to innovate rapidly and safely.
