Release of the Chiisai Specification by Vector Informatik for Software-Defined Vehicles
Open collaboration is driving the next era of automotive innovation. See how Microchip and Vector are advancing software-defined vehicles with scalable edge-device solutions, streamlined integration and support for emerging industry standards like the Chiisai HAL specification.
Enabling the Intelligent Edge of the Software-Defined Vehicle
The automotive industry is undergoing one of its biggest architectural transformations in decades. As automakers evolve toward Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) and zonal architectures, the role of sensor and actuator ECUs is evolving. Instead of each ECU managing OEM-specific software complexity, more functionality is being centralized in zonal controllers and high-performance compute platforms, while edge devices are becoming more focused on dedicated mechatronic tasks. MICROSAR IO was specifically designed to support this approach.
In 2025, Microchip and Vector began collaborating to bring Vector's new MICROSAR IO software base layer to our dsPIC33A Digital Signal Controller (DSC) family. What started as a technical integration project developed into a broader effort focused on next-generation automotive edge computing.
From Vision to Demonstration
A major milestone of this collaboration was demonstrated at Embedded World 2026, where a fully operational MICROSAR IO base layer was shown running on dsPIC33A devices. The demonstration featured two representative automotive use cases:
- Advanced BLDC motor control
- Intelligent LED lighting control
These applications reflect the types of functions expected to remain at the edge of future zonal vehicle architectures. While higher-level vehicle intelligence shifts toward centralized computing platforms, real-time control functions such as motors, sensors and lighting still require highly efficient and deterministic local processing.
The dsPIC33A family is well suited for these applications, combining digital signal processing, real-time control performance and automotive-grade reliability. By integrating these capabilities with Vector's MICROSAR IO base layer, developers can access a scalable software framework while maintaining the performance needed for demanding control applications.
Leveraging the New Chiisai HAL Specification
An important technical aspect of this collaboration was the adoption of the new Chiisai Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) specification.
Microchip developed the peripheral drivers for the dsPIC33A platform using this HAL architecture. The standardized interfaces simplify software portability and significantly reduce integration effort across semiconductor platforms.
The abstraction model and documentation helped streamline the driver implementation and integration into the MICROSAR IO ecosystem.
Supporting the Future of Zonal Architectures
The collaboration also highlights the growing importance of scalable, efficient edge-device solutions for future automotive electrical and electronic architectures.
As OEMs continue moving toward zonal and software-defined vehicle platforms, there is increasing demand for solutions that allow intelligent edge devices to remain simple, scalable and cost-efficient while integrating into more advanced vehicle networks.
The Microchip-Vector solution provides access to a ready-to-use software and hardware platform that enables rapid development of mechatronic ECUs compatible with emerging SDV architectures, reducing time-to-market and development risk.
The Journey Continues
Most recently, Microchip and Vector extended support to our PIC32CM JH family of Arm® Cortex®-M0+ based microcontrollers.
This broadens the range of supported hardware platforms within the MICROSAR IO ecosystem and provides additional flexibility for different application requirements.
With the support for both dsPIC33A and PIC32CM JH families, our portfolio now addresses a wider range of sensors, actuators and general control applications at the edge for future software-defined vehicles.
Microchip welcomes the release of the Chiisai HAL Specification and actively supports the initiative as a contributing partner. By providing the first Chiisai-compliant communication drivers for the dsPIC33A Digital Signal Controllers and PIC32CM Cortex M MCUs, Microchip is making a tangible contribution to building an open and interoperable software ecosystem. We believe that open collaboration between semiconductor manufacturers, software providers and users is key to the successful establishment of common industry standards.
Looking Ahead
The automotive industry continues to shift toward architectures where centralized intelligence and distributed mechatronic control coexist. Success in this environment requires scalable, lightweight and hardware-independent software platforms.
The collaboration between Microchip and Vector demonstrates how semiconductor and software ecosystem partners can work together to make this vision a reality. By combining MICROSAR IO's modern software approach with our real-time control solutions, customers can help bridge today's embedded systems and tomorrow's software-defined vehicles.