First SoC for sub-GHz networks with AI accelerator
Silicon Labs has launched its first sub-GHz system on chip with an AI machine learning accelerator.
The FG28 sub-GHz SoC is designed for long-range networks and protocols like Amazon Sidewalk, Wi-SUN, and other proprietary IoT protocols with AI at the edge.
Silicon Labs says this is the industry’s first integrated AI/ML hardware accelerator in a sub-GHz SoC, allowing for machine learning inference at the edge to enable predictive maintenance warnings, monitor soil conditions for key conditions like moisture and pH levels, and more.
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Alongside the AI/ML accelerator and radios for sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz Bluetooth LE, it includes the Silicon Labs Secure Vault technology. It has 1024 KB of flash storage and 256 KB of RAM, to meet the memory needs of a wide range of protocols and technology stacks and up to 49 General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins for robust peripheral connectivity.
The sub-GHz connectivity for Wi-SUN means the FG28 can serve as the battery-operated end node in smart cities, for example, as a tracker on dumpsters to help locate them and check the last time they were emptied, or in irrigation systems across multi-acre commercial farming operations, or as livestock trackers and health monitors on sprawling ranches. Bluetooth connectivity not only allows for devices to easily be deployed on the network, but also allows for operators to connect to the device locally for diagnostics, data downloads, and more.
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“The FG28 SoC addresses several key needs for our customers when it comes to developing and deploying low-power wide area networks,” said Daniel Cooley, CTO of Silicon Labs. “By including Bluetooth, it gives users an easy way to provision and deploy new devices onto the network, while the sub-GHz band is designed to support device communications over one mile, allowing for new edge applications in areas like smart agriculture, smart cities, and neighbourhood networks like Amazon Sidewalk.”
Amazon Sidewalk is a secure, ubiquitous, always-on community network built by the community, for the community. Using existing smart home devices like select cameras and speakers as gateways, Amazon Sidewalk offers a secure, reliable, and versatile connection that supports long-range use cases.
The FG28 is currently sampling now with general availability planned before the end of 3Q 2023. In addition, the FG28 will also be available in derivatives for optimized for Amazon Sidewalk and Z-Wave Long-Range, and as a stand alone MCU.
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