Xilinx, Inc. today announced Android 5.1  (Lollipop) support for the Zynq UltraScale+Multi-Processor SoC (MPSoC). Through its Hardware Enablement Program, Mentor Graphics has used its extensive Android experience on heterogeneous multi-core platforms to successfully port the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code to run on the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC. The resulting solution is the first to combine the advanced user interface of the Android platform with the added safety, security, and processing power offered by Zynq UltraScale+ devices, based on the 64-bit ARMv8 architecture.

The heterogeneous Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC isolates hardware resources to allow a high-level operating system, such as Android, to co-exist with safety critical functions that are run by a Real-Time Operating System on the integrated Real-Time Processing Unit. “Designers working within Industrial Automation, Transportation, Medical and Healthcare, and Radio markets continue to look for ways to build products that include features such as voice recognition, rich user interface, and complete customization without compromising safety and security,” said Ramine Roane, senior director of Software Product Marketing, Xilinx. “The unique combination of the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC and the AOSP provides a full safe and secure platform upon which such products can be built.”

“Our expertise to port the Android Open Source Project to Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC will ease embedded development for Xilinx customers. The combination of application and real-time processing, low power consumption, high performance, integrated programmable logic, and isolation between general purpose and real-time subsystems provide many opportunities for the deployment of Android into non-traditional markets,” said Warren Kurisu, director of product management, Runtime Solutions, Mentor Graphics Embedded Systems Division. “We look forward to supporting Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC customers on Android as well as a range of other software and tools available within the Mentor Embedded product line.”

Android 5.1 (Lollipop) will be publicly available from Mentor Embedded for Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC in Q3 2016. Mentor will directly support Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC customers by providing commercial support, customization services, platform porting and feature enhancements, all available as part of a larger full software solution package for Xilinx products.

Xilinx
http://www.xilinx.com