Articles – Page 31

Is This the Next Level of Machine Vision for Autonomous Driving?

December 21, 2023

Earlier this year I penned a column explaining how Ambarella’s next-generation AI vision processors were targeting edge applications. The focus of that column was the CV72S System-on-Chip (SoC) device, which presents Ambarella’s state-of-the-art technology at a size and cost point that fits the IoT market in general and the security/surveillance market in particular.

To be honest, I fear I may have dropped the ball. I was so focused on Embedded Edge and IoT applications that I … Read More → "Is This the Next Level of Machine Vision for Autonomous Driving?"

An Electrifying Discovery: Wondom’s $12 Internal UPS for Small System Designs

by Steven Leibson

December 18, 2023

This article isn’t about a new product. It’s just new to me. The product is Wondom’s BCPB2, a charger, battery management system (BMS), and battery holder for three 18650 lithium-ion cells. I discovered this product while considering ways to repair the battery subsystem in a Keithley 197 Microvoltmeter made around 1991 that I recently bought on eBay. The original battery in this 30-year-old product is a 12V pack made from NiCd cells. That pack took one charge and then died, so I disconnected the battery pack but left the charging board in place. The microvoltmeter works fine … Read More → "An Electrifying Discovery: Wondom’s $12 Internal UPS for Small System Designs"

Using AI-Enabled Robots to Automate What Cannot Be Automated

by Max Maxfield

December 14, 2023

I’m a lucky man. I have very few regrets in my life. Sometimes I look back and think I would have enjoyed employing my skills in different industries, but then I realize I would have missed out on all the cool things I’ve done on the path I ended up taking. I like to think of my journey through life as my being a time traveler taking the scenic route.

But what if I were to clone myself? If I could leave my clone doing what I do now, that would … Read More → "Using AI-Enabled Robots to Automate What Cannot Be Automated"

ST announces Edge AI Suite for Arm Cortex-M microcontrollers, sensors, and so on

by Steven Leibson

December 13, 2023

ST has just formally announced the Edge AI Suite, a development tool set for its line of STM32 microcontrollers based on the Arm Cortex-M processor core, Arm-based Stellar automotive microcontrollers, and associated smart sensors. The Edge AI Studio is free to use when generating code for ST’s microcontrollers. ST’s NanoEdge AI Studio, one of the tools within the Edge AI Suite, can be licensed for use with Cortex-M microcontrollers offered by other semiconductor vendors. The Edge AI Suite and its associated libraries are not designed to implement large language models (LLMs) or for replicating cloud-based … Read More → "ST announces Edge AI Suite for Arm Cortex-M microcontrollers, sensors, and so on"

Unleashing the Power of Quantum Computing

by Max Maxfield

December 12, 2023

Before we dive into this topic with gusto and abandon (and aplomb, of course), it’s probably only fair for me to inform you that I don’t have a clue what I’m about to be talking about, if you see what I mean. “So, how does this differ from your other columns,” I hear you mutter under your breath. I’m obliged to admit that you have me there, and yet you are still reading, so ten points to me, I think.

Now, you probably think that my … Read More → "Unleashing the Power of Quantum Computing"

Lattice launches two new mid-range FPGA families with six more FPGAs into the FPGA wars

by Steven Leibson

December 11, 2023

Last December, Lattice Semiconductor announced the Avant-E family of mid-range FPGAs (see “Lattice Strides Into the Mid-Range FPGA Arena With Avant”), and, at its Developer Conference this month, the company announced an expansion of the Avant family tree through new Avant-G and Avant-X FPGA families. The Lattice Avant-G family is designated as the general-purpose, mid-range FPGA family, and the Avant-X FPGAs are designed specifically for networking applications. Lattice defines “mid-range” as FPGAs that incorporate 100K to 500K logic elements. This definition seems to fit … Read More → "Lattice launches two new mid-range FPGA families with six more FPGAs into the FPGA wars"

Infineon and Archetype to Develop AI Sensor Chipsets

by Max Maxfield

December 7, 2023

As I may have mentioned on occasion, I love reading science fiction books and watching science fiction films. A couple of tomes that really caught my imagination were A Deepness in the Sky and A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge.

An underlying theme upon which these tales are layered is that our Milky … Read More → "Infineon and Archetype to Develop AI Sensor Chipsets"

Honey, I Shrunk the Switching Regulator (into a 2.2 x 1.6 mm footprint)

by Steven Leibson

December 6, 2023

Shrink rays are a common trope with a long history in science fiction. The first time I saw one “in use” was in the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage and Isaac Asimov’s book based on the film’s screenplay. In Fantastic Voyage, movie and book, the shrink ray is used to miniaturize a submarine named Proteus so that it can be injected into a person to perform some delicate brain surgery using a very new-at-the-time laser – also miniaturized. (It was also the late Raquel Welch’s debut film for 20< … Read More → "Honey, I Shrunk the Switching Regulator (into a 2.2 x 1.6 mm footprint)"

Synopsys Takes on RISC-V Configurability with ARC-V Processor IP Family

by Steven Leibson

December 4, 2023

Long, long ago, at the turn of the millennium, two champions of configurable processor IP – ARC and Tensilica – battled for dominance in that arena with unique processor ISAs and custom tools to aid in creating software-development tool chains for their configurable processors. Synopsys bought ARC in 2011, and Cadence bought Tensilica a couple of years later. Fast forward a decade and suddenly, RISC-V has somehow validated the concept of configurable processors. Consequently, many companies with proprietary processor ISAs have jumped on the RISC-V bandwagon as its ecosystem gathers momentum. For example, Intel announced the development of a third … Read More → "Synopsys Takes on RISC-V Configurability with ARC-V Processor IP Family"

9.6Gbps HBM3 Memory Controller IP Boosts SoC AI Performance

by Max Maxfield

November 30, 2023

It’s not often you get to say things like “exponential increase in insatiable demand,” so I’m going to make the most of it by taking a deep breath, pausing for effect, and waiting for the audience’s antici…

…pation to mount. As I’ve mentioned in previous columns (although possibly using different words), we are currently seeing an exponential increase in insatiable demand for increased processing power.

I’m sure we’re all familiar with Read More → "9.6Gbps HBM3 Memory Controller IP Boosts SoC AI Performance"