Fraunhofer IPMS develops new 10G TSN Endpoint

The new 10G TSN endpoint (EP) expands the portfolio of time-sensitive networking (TSN) IP cores from Fraunhofer IPMS. It addresses demanding applications in which the highest bandwidths, precise time synchronization and reliable data transmission that can be precisely scheduled are crucial. Compared to the previous 1G TSN IP cores, the new 10G TSN-EP IP core enables a tenfold increase in data throughput of up to 10 Gbit/s with consistently deterministic behavior across the entire network. It thus supports the development of next-generation real-time Ethernet networks.

Precise time synchronization in the nanosecond range

Technically, the new 10G TSN-EP IP core relies on a robust, hardware-accelerated implementation of time synchronization in accordance with IEEE 802.1AS-2020 (gPTP). As a result, it achieves synchronization accuracies of less than 10 nanoseconds in Ethernet networks and ensures stable time bases even at very high data rates. Central TSN standards such as IEEE 802.1Qav for audio/video traffic shaping, IEEE 802.1Qbv for time-controlled scheduling, IEEE 802.1Qci for per-stream policing and IEEE 802.1CB (FRER) for redundant, fault-tolerant transmissions are supported.

Fraunhofer IPMS provides Linux driver packages and reference implementations for fast implementation. The latter cover native XGMII interfaces as well as common 10G interfaces such as 10G-BASE R/ SFI/ XFI, for example on AMD Xilinx FPGAs. The 10G TSN-EP IP core is designed for a wide range of proven FPGA and ASIC target platforms, facilitating rapid integration into customer-specific designs.

Wide range of applications

In modern in-vehicle networks, the 10G TSN-EP IP core serves as a deterministic backbone for domains such as ADAS, infotainment and central computers. In sensor technology, it enables low-loss and low-jitter data paths for video, radar and lidar data - even in simultaneous multistream operation. In industrial automation, it supports scalable, real-time-capable networks for synchronized drives, robotics and image processing lines. Predictable latency budgets across the entire network increase the reliability and efficiency of complex production systems.

"With our new 10G TSN endpoint, we are expanding our portfolio of TSN IP cores by an important expansion stage and at the same time laying the foundation for a series of high-speed TSN IP cores," says Alexander Noack, Head of Data Communication & Computing (DCC) at Fraunhofer IPMS in Dresden. "We are thus driving forward the development of a new generation of IP cores for real-time capable high-speed Ethernet networks in which precise time synchronization is crucial - from automotive and industry to aerospace and defence."

As part of the CeCas funding project, Fraunhofer IPMS is currently working on the development of a supercomputing platform for highly automated automobiles in which 25G TSN solutions are being tested. In addition to the new 10G TSN-EP IP core, a 10G TSN switched endpoint and a 10G TSN switch are already being implemented and will be available in the course of the year.