MCU → MPU Transition

When Has Your Project Outgrown Its Microcontroller?

Is your STM32-based product hitting development barriers? Recognize the warning signs:

• Running out of memory — New features don’t fit in Flash/RAM
• Growing complexity — Increasingly difficult to maintain stability with expanding codebase
• Modern interface requirements — GUI, networking, or advanced cryptography needs
• Cloud integration — Need for HTTP/HTTPS, MQTT with TLS, REST API protocols
• Security certification — Requirements for OTA updates, secure boot, encryption

If any of these points sound familiar, it’s time to migrate to heterogeneous architecture.

Why STM32MP1?

The STM32MP1 family is the natural evolution path for STM32-based microcontroller projects. It combines the power of a Cortex-A7 application processor with the reliability of a Cortex-M4 coprocessor in a single chip.

Benefits of Heterogeneous Architecture

Key advantage: Most of your existing bare-metal code for STM32 can be ported to the M4 core with minimal modifications, while new demanding features run on Linux.

My Specialization

I offer comprehensive support throughout the migration process — from feasibility analysis to production deployment.

1. Audit and Feasibility Analysis

• Assessment of current project for migration suitability
• Identification of components for M4 vs A7
• Analysis of timing requirements (real-time vs best-effort)
• Effort estimation and risk assessment

2. System Architecture

• Designing responsibility split between cores
• Communication protocol definition (OpenAMP/RPMsg)
• Hardware resource management strategy (Resource Manager)
• Device Tree planning

3. Firmware Migration (Cortex-M4)

• Porting existing STM32 code to the coprocessor
• Peripheral driver adaptation
• Implementation of Linux communication
• Optimization for AMP mode (Asymmetric Multi-Processing)

4. Linux System Development (Cortex-A7)

• Distribution building (Yocto Project / Buildroot)
• Driver and HAL layer integration
• User application implementation
• Network, security, and OTA update configuration

5. Integration and Validation

• Inter-core communication testing
• Timing requirements validation
• Load and stability testing
• Certification preparation

Why Choose a Specialist?

Migration from MCU to MPU is not just a chip change — it’s a fundamental shift in design paradigm. Common pitfalls I help you avoid:

❌ Trying to run real-time code on Linux — without a coprocessor, you lose timing determinism

❌ Ignoring the Resource Manager — peripheral access conflicts between cores

❌ Underestimating Device Tree complexity — hours of debugging instead of productive work

❌ No update strategy — a system that cannot be safely updated in the field

✅ With my help: Smooth migration preserving the intellectual value of existing code while opening new possibilities.

Typical Project Timeline

┌─────────────────┐     ┌─────────────────┐     ┌─────────────────┐
│   PHASE 1       │     │   PHASE 2       │     │   PHASE 3       │
│   Audit         │────▶│   Architecture  │────▶│   Implementation│
│   (1-2 weeks)   │     │   (1-2 weeks)   │     │   (4-8 weeks)   │
└─────────────────┘     └─────────────────┘     └─────────────────┘
                                                        │
                        ┌─────────────────┐             │
                        │   PHASE 4       │◀────────────┘
                        │   Validation    │
                        │   (2-3 weeks)   │
                        └─────────────────┘

Let’s Start the Conversation

Every migration project is different. I’d be happy to discuss the specifics of your case and propose the optimal development path.

👉 Contact me — free initial consultation