A dual-core RISC-V controller gives developers a new way to build embedded control systems for cars, factories, and robots.
SignOff Semiconductors has introduced the REV-E, a dual-core RISC-V soft controller SoC IP for embedded applications in automotive, industrial automation, drones, robotics, and other low-compute electronic control units (ECUs). Built on the open, royalty-free RISC-V architecture, the controller includes a software development kit (SDK) and a configurable design that lets developers include only the peripherals needed for a specific application, helping reduce ECU development time.
The REV-E is designed for embedded systems that require low computing power, predictable operation, and configurable hardware. According to SignOff Semiconductors, the controller has been validated across more than 50 use cases in automotive, industrial automation, robotics, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure.
The controller is based on the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA), an open, royalty-free standard maintained by RISC-V International. It can be integrated, customised, and scaled without licensing restrictions or per-unit royalty costs. The soft IP can also be hardened into SoCs, extended with application-specific instructions, and reused across multiple products without additional ISA licensing costs.
The REV-E features two RISC-V processor cores operating in a deterministic execution environment. The dual-core architecture allows real-time control tasks to run independently from communication, monitoring, and application functions, reducing the need to manage workloads on a single core using a real-time operating system (RTOS). Each core can be configured independently, while the peripheral architecture allows both cores to connect to multiple interfaces. Developers can include only the peripherals required for a specific application, reducing hardware overhead compared to fixed controller designs.
The automotive sector is the primary target for the REV-E. Modern vehicles use multiple ECUs to manage powertrain, safety systems, body control, HVAC, lighting, and keyless entry. The controller supports automotive communication protocols and is intended for body control modules (BCMs), gateway ECUs, sensor fusion units, and chassis control systems.
The REV-E is also designed for industrial automation applications, including programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interface (HMI) controllers, conveyor systems, valve controllers, safety interlocks, and motor control units.
