Integrated Telematics Gateway: Secure, Connected, and Efficient Vehicle Systems

From Vehicles to Intelligent, Connected Systems

The automotive industry is undergoing a transformation—cars are no longer just vehicles; they’re becoming intelligent, connected systems on wheels. As consumers demand greater convenience, safety, and efficiency, the need for smarter automotive technology has never been higher. With advancements in high-speed networks and wireless communication, modern automobiles can receive over-the-air updates, interact with traffic infrastructure, and even diagnose their own issues. These capabilities are not just about enhancing the driving experience, they are essential for keeping up with evolving safety regulations, sustainability goals, and the growing expectations for seamless digital integration in everyday life. In this blog, we'll explore how Renesas is making this transformation possible with three key reference designs:

• AS260-VCU-V1: Vehicle Control Unit Reference Design
• AS049-1-REIN-WCU-V1: Wireless Communication Unit Reference Design
• Y-IPD-EFUSE-PDB-01: Power Distribution Box with eFuse Reference Board

Together, these boards form the backbone of a telematics gateway and zone control that keeps vehicles smarter, safer, and always connected.

Renesas' Vehicle Control Unit

The Brain of the Connected Vehicle: A Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) is a critical component of the automotive E/E architecture, serving as one of the core Electronic Control Units (ECUs) that manage vehicle operations. The AS260-VCU-V1 reference design acts as a comprehensive vehicle control unit, enabling seamless integration with various ECUs through CAN, LIN, and Ethernet interfaces. It also features sensor connectivity via SENT, PSI, I²C, and SPI, along with a communication card connector for cloud integration, supporting connected vehicle technology.

Designed for both passenger and commercial vehicles, the AS260-VCU-V1 functions as a central compute unit or gateway, facilitating the integration of advanced sensor networks and enabling the efficient implementation of zonal E/E architectures. For example, in a fleet of autonomous shuttles, this board can manage real-time communication between the vehicle’s perception systems, route planning algorithms, and cloud-based fleet management, ensuring safe and efficient autonomous operation.

An onboard Embedded Multi-Media Card (eMMC) delivers high-capacity storage, supporting a wide range of use cases, from logging vehicle diagnostics to storing high-resolution sensor data for AI-based processing. To further enhance performance and reliability, the AS260-VCU-V1 integrates key components designed for automotive applications.

Powered by Renesas' RH850/U2A MCU, this board is built to support Software-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) frameworks. Its advanced multi-core architecture delivers the high-performance computing required for today's complex automotive systems while ensuring compliance with rigorous functional safety standards, ranging from ASIL B to ASIL D. The MCU supports No-wait Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, enabling seamless software upgrades without interrupting vehicle operation. Its dual-bank embedded flash memory facilitates this feature, which allows the system to update and save software images while remaining active. In the event of an update failure, the system can revert to the original, ensuring continuous functionality and safety.  Additionally, the AS260-VCU-V1 board has also attained CE Certification. This reference design board also comprises an ISL78208, a dual standard buck regulator that provides a high-efficiency, dual 3A output power supply, ensuring stable voltage regulation for the multi-core RH850/U2A MCU and other critical subsystems. The ISL78206 step-down regulator further optimizes power delivery by efficiently converting higher voltage inputs to a stable 2.5A output, supporting low-power operation while maintaining robust performance. For secure and reliable data storage, the board comes with an AT25QF128A SPI serial flash memory that offers 128Mbit capacity with fast read speeds and quad I/O support, making it ideal for firmware storage, logging, and real-time data buffering.

Renesas' Wireless Communication Unit

The Connectivity Enabler: As vehicles shift towards being fully connected smart devices, the role of a Wireless Communication Unit (WCU) becomes paramount. The AS049-REIN-WCU-V1 reference design is tailored for this purpose. It integrates multiple wireless modules—including Bluetooth^® Low Energy (LE), Wi-Fi, and LTE+GPS—to bring high-performance connectivity to the automotive ecosystem and beyond.

Primarily used as an automotive telematics unit, this reference design is ideal for upgrading existing ECUs to support cloud connectivity and enable Over-the-Air (OTA) updates. This capability ensures that vehicles can receive software enhancements, security patches, and feature upgrades remotely, reducing the need for in-person service visits. For example, in a fleet management scenario, this board can continuously relay vehicle diagnostics, location data, and real-time alerts to a centralized system, improving operational efficiency and predictive maintenance.

To enhance wireless performance, the AS049-REIN-WCU-V1 integrates the DA16200, an ultra-low power Wi-Fi System-on-Chip (SoC) designed for always-connected applications. Its power-saving technology extends battery life, making it ideal for applications where constant connectivity is required without excessive power consumption. Complementing this, the DA14531 Bluetooth 5.1 SoC enables reliable, low-energy communication between the reference design board and various in-vehicle or external smart devices, supporting seamless data exchange for telematics, keyless entry, and mobile app integration.

Beyond automotive applications, its energy-efficient design also makes it well-suited for industrial IoT environments, where reliable wireless communication is essential for monitoring and controlling remote assets. Whether in smart factories, logistics hubs, or connected infrastructure, the AS049-REIN-WCU-V1 ensures seamless data transmission, enabling smarter decision-making and enhanced system automation.

Renesas' Power Distribution Box with eFuse

Smart Power Management for Modern Vehicles: A reliable telematics gateway is only as good as its power management system. The Y-IPD-EFUSE-PDB-01 is a compact, 30cm² board featuring 10 output channels, each controlled by Renesas Intelligent Power Devices (IPDs). These IPDs enable high-current switching with built-in protection, ensuring safe and efficient power distribution. The board also integrates an eFuse function, leveraging real-time current feedback from the IPDs to prevent overcurrent conditions and enhance system reliability. The IPDs used are the RAJ2800024H12HPF, which provides robust protection and intelligent switching for high-current automotive applications, ensuring reliable operation even in harsh environments. The uPD166033T1U, designed for precision control, enables efficient power switching while minimizing heat dissipation, making it ideal for managing multiple electronic loads. Additionally, the uPD166027T1J enhances system safety with its advanced overcurrent and thermal protection features, preventing damage to critical components and improving overall power efficiency. Being a ready-to-use solution, the eFuse is controlled by software running on an RL78/F14 MCU, allowing for configurable fuse characteristics that can be adjusted to accommodate various cable types and operating conditions. Unlike traditional fuses, this solid-state design offers significantly faster response times and enhanced durability. A key advantage of this approach is the I²t fuse algorithm—which regulates current based on both intensity and duration. For example, in a vehicle headlamp system requiring a 30A load, pushing that current instantly could cause excessive heating, necessitating thicker, more expensive wiring. However, by dynamically managing the 30A load over time, the eFuse reduces thermal stress, enabling the use of lower-gauge wires without compromising performance or safety. This optimizes both cost and energy efficiency while ensuring reliable power delivery. With its intelligent power distribution and protection mechanisms, this reference board ensures seamless and secure power delivery, making it an essential component for modern telematics gateways and automotive electronic systems.

Integrating the Boards: The Telematics Gateway Solution

A Cohesive, Connected Ecosystem: When these innovative boards are integrated, they form a comprehensive telematics gateway—a solution that transforms vehicles into smart, connected entities. Renesas has come up with a Telematics Gateway lab that connects all three boards, ensuring a fully integrated system.

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This lab demonstrates how vehicles can achieve seamless connectivity, remote diagnostics, and OTA firmware updates. It integrates a Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) and a Wireless Communication Unit (WCU) to enable real-time data monitoring, GPS tracking, and efficient ECU reprogramming over CAN and wireless networks. Users can remotely update multiple ECUs, roll back firmware versions, and interact with diagnostic services using the UDS protocol. The lab also showcases remote control of vehicle functions, such as headlights and fans, while supporting multi-camera video recording and playback. This setup significantly improves efficiency, reduces costs associated with traditional diagnostic tools, and enhances overall vehicle intelligence. To see the lab in action please check out the Telematics Gateway Lab Demo Video and if you want to access this lab please visit Telematics Gateway.