ARDEP (Automotive Rapid DEvelopment Platform) is an open-source hardware and software platform hosted on Mercedes-Benz’s GitHub account and released under an Apache 2.0 license.
The ARDEP V2 main board is based on an STMicroelectronics STM32G474VE Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller for motor control with CORDIC and FMAC hardware math accelerators, and features CAN-FD and LIN transceivers, while the PowerIO Shield features 6 outputs and 6 inputs supporting up to 48V and 3A per channel.
ARDEP V2 specifications:
- MCU – STMicroelectronics STM32G474VE
- Arm Cortex-M4 with FPU at up to 170 MHz
- Math accelerators – CORDIC for trigonometric functions and Filter Mathematical ACcelerator (FMAC)
- Memory – 128 KB SRAM
- Storage – 256 KB single-bank flash
- USB
- 1x USB Type-C “ARDEP” port
- 1x USB Type-C “Debugger” port
- Transceivers
- 2x CAN-FD capable transceivers, each with a common mode choke, ESD protection, and hardware-configurable 120 Ohm termination
- 1x LIN transceiver, software-selectable master or slave mode
- I/Os
- DB-9 connector following the “Vector pinout” commonly used by Vector Informatik tools such as CANalyzer and VN series interfaces
- Note: A hardware switch (SW1) routes either CAN-A to DB-9 pins 2 and 7, or LIN to DB-9 pin 7
- 12-pole spring contact terminal for CAN-A and LIN
- 6-pole spring contact terminal with 2x UART
- Arduino-compatible headers
- 6-pin header with 6x analog input, SPI interfaces
- 8-pin + 10-pin headers for digital inputs, USART, SPI, I2C
- 32-pin header with GPIOs, LPUART, SPI, DAC, I2C, USART…
- DB-9 connector following the “Vector pinout” commonly used by Vector Informatik tools such as CANalyzer and VN series interfaces
- Debugger – On-board debugger with UART connection
- Power Supply
- Input voltage – 5 V to 48 V via main terminals, protected by a 51 V TVS diode and a 1 A slow-blow fuse
- USB power – 4.75 V to 5.25 V via USB Type-C (ARDEP or Debug port)
- Internal 5 V rail – 500 mA maximum total, shared across the 5 V and 3.3 V outputs and the MCU
- 3.3 V output – Available on the Arduino header and 32-pin connector, 200 mA poly fuse per group
- LIN supply input (VLIN) – 0 V to 24 V external, extendable to 36 V with different ESD protection
- GPIO logic level: 3.3 V
- Protection – Overvoltage, reverse current, and ESD protection on the supply path
- Dimensions – 109 x 69 x 16 mm
- Weight – About 60 grams
Power IO Shield specifications:
- Outputs – 6x high-side drivers based on the IPS2050HQ-32 smart high-side switch, 3 A continuous per channel, 10 A total across all six
- Inputs – 6x 48 V-capable digital inputs
- Diagnostics – Per-channel overcurrent and overtemperature fault indication via onboard LEDs, plus I2C fault feedback to the main board that identifies which driver IC has faulted
- Supply voltage – Up to 48 V DC
- Dimensions – 61 x 99 x 23 mm
- Weight – ~70 g (2.47 oz)
The firmware is based on Zephyr RTOS and supports UDS (Unified Diagnostic Services, ISO 14229). Firmware update (DFU) is supported over both CAN and USB, a bootloader and firmware loader are pre-installed, and the company also provides a library with samples and demos for CAN, LIN, ADC, DAC, GPIO, UDS, and a CAN-to-USB bridge.
As mentioned in the introduction, the open-source hardware project is hosted on a GitHub repository owned by Mercedes-Benz, and you’ll find the KiCad and Alitum hardware design files, PDF schematics, source code for the firmware, library, and samples, as well as documentation. The work is marked as “Copyright: Mercedes-Benz AG” and released under the Apache 2.0 license.
There’s everything for you to build your own, but when I searched for a place to purchase the ARDEP V2 board, I ended up on Crowd Supply by Frickly Systems GmbH, which is preparing a crowdfunding campaign for the board (so no price yet). What is going on?
It turns out the ARDEP V2 is a collaboration between Frickly Systems GmbH (a Stuttgart-based engineering firm) and Mercedes-Benz, with the car maker hosting the project and using it in its “FlexCAR Rolling Chassis” open research vehicle, while Frickly handles all/most of the engineering work for the project itself.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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