STMicroelectronics AEKD-AFLPANEL1

Overview

AEKD-AFLPANEL1 from STMicroelectronics is a plexiglass-based evaluation panel assembly for adaptive front lighting (AFL) system development, integrating AutoDevKit boards to independently control two stepper motors (X/Y axis light projection), four LED strings (high beam, low beam, DRL, direction lights), and a cooling fan via an SPC5 Chorus automotive MCU. Panel dimensions are 330 × 270 × 40 mm and include all interconnect cables, connectors, and a dedicated AFL VIP connector board.

For engineers reviewing the AEKD-AFLPANEL1 datasheet, AEKD-AFLPANEL1 pinout, AEKD-AFLPANEL1 application, or AEKD-AFLPANEL1 equivalent, this kit serves as a complete hardware platform for rapid prototyping of automotive AFL control logic, sensor-in-the-loop simulation (e.g., steering wheel position via potentiometer on J5), and CAN bus integration testing with body control modules using the AEK-CON-AFLVIP2 interface.

Technical Context

The AEKD-AFLPANEL1 implements a modular, board-level AFL simulation architecture: the AEK-MCU-C4MLIT1 control board hosts an SPC58ECxx 32-bit Power Architecture MCU running AutoDevKit firmware; dual AEK-MOT-SM81M1 stepper motor drivers provide microstepping control for headlight angular positioning; the AEK-LED-21DISM1 board delivers independent current regulation across four LED channels; and the AEK-CON-AFLVIP2 connector board enables analog steering emulation (J5/ST.WHEEL) and CAN message monitoring (J4/CAN).

System-level coordination is achieved through SPI-daisy-chained peripheral boards (DSPI-0/1/2), shared 5V/12V power domains, and configurable test points (e.g., SPI_TP1, DIO_TP1–8) for signal validation. All ST components meet AEC-Q100 Grade 1 automotive qualification, and the entire assembly complies with RoHS and WEEE directives.

Key Specifications

Availability

AEKD-AFLPANEL1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive ADAS prototyping, ECU functional safety validation, and adaptive lighting algorithm development requiring stable component supply and traceable automotive-grade hardware.

Supply support for AEKD-AFLPANEL1 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader specializing in automotive, industrial, and power technologies, with over 40 years of innovation in microcontrollers, power management, and sensor solutions.

AEKD-AFLPANEL1 belongs to the AutoDevKit ecosystem - a modular, open-hardware platform designed specifically for rapid development and validation of automotive ECUs, emphasizing interoperability, CAN-based diagnostics, and AEC-Q100-compliant component integration.

FAQ

What loads does AEKD-AFLPANEL1 directly drive?

AEKD-AFLPANEL1 does not drive loads directly but hosts and interconnects evaluation boards that do: two AEK-MOT-SM81M1 boards drive stepper motors for X/Y light positioning; AEK-LED-21DISM1 drives four LED strings (high/low beam, DRL, turn); and a dedicated FAN switch board controls the cooling fan. All load interfaces are routed through the AEK-CON-AFLVIP2 connector board.

How is steering wheel position emulated on this panel?

Steering wheel position is emulated via a 0–5 V analog signal applied to J5 (labeled ST.WHEEL) on the AEK-CON-AFLVIP2 connector board. The SPC5 Chorus MCU reads this voltage as a proxy for steering angle; firmware must have AFLDEMO_MANUALMODE set to true, and pins 5–6 of J5 shorted to disable default manual mode at startup.

Can AEKD-AFLPANEL1 operate standalone without AEKD-AFLLIGHT1?

No - AEKD-AFLPANEL1 is the control and interface panel only. It requires the AEKD-AFLLIGHT1 headlight assembly (containing physical LEDs, stepper motors, fan, and acrylic housing) to form a complete AFL simulation system. The two kits are functionally coupled: AEKD-AFLPANEL1 provides control logic and signals; AEKD-AFLLIGHT1 provides the actuated loads and mechanical structure.

Which communication protocols are exposed and tested on this kit?

The kit exposes and supports CAN 2.0B (ISO 11898-2) via J4 on AEK-CON-AFLVIP2 for ECU-to-ECU messaging (e.g., dashboard feedback), and SPI (DSPI-0/1/2) for high-speed, daisy-chained communication between the SPC5 MCU and peripheral boards (motor drivers, LED driver). No LIN, Ethernet, or FlexRay interfaces are implemented.