Synaptics launches 64bit multicore SoCs for general purpose edge AI
Synaptics is aiming to tap into the boom around edge AI with a general purpose 64bit ARM processor and AI framework platform called Astra.
The Synaptics Astra platform, launched at the Embedded World show in Germany this week, combines a family of embedded AI-native Internet of Things (IoT) processors, development board and the Astra Machina Foundation Series development kit.
Astra provides the structure, scalability, and flexibility to meet the requests for edge AI, says Synaptics. Last year Synaptics bought Emza Visual Sense in Israel which specialises in low power edge AI for visual applications.
“Sense, process, and connect are the fundamental elements of an IoT system and we have differentiated technologies in all three areas,” said Michael Hurlston, President and CEO of Synaptics. “While we have historically been leaders in a handful of narrow processor verticals, today we are embarking on a journey to bring advanced AI capability to an incredibly wide range of edge IoT devices.”
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The SL-Series of processors are based around multiple ARM Cortex-A class cores running Linux or Android alongside hardware accelerators for edge inferencing and multimedia processing on audio, video, vision, image, voice, and speech.
The SL1680 is based on a quad-core ARM Cortex-A73 64bit CPU, a 7.9 TOPS NPU, a high-efficiency, GPU, and a multimedia accelerator pipeline, although the company is not specifying the supplier of the NPU or GPU. This is aimed at home and industrial control, smart appliances, home security gateways, digital signage, displays, point-of-sale systems, and scanners.
The SL1640 is optimized for cost and power and is based on a quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 processor, a 1.6+ TOPS NPU, and a GE9920 GPU from Imagination Technologies. It is aimed at smart home appliances, enterprise conferencing, smart speakers, displays and signage, consumer, and industrial control panels.
The SL1620 is also based on a quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 CPU subsystem, GPU for advanced graphics and AI acceleration, superior audio algorithms, and dual displays. Applications include enterprise multimedia conferencing, smart appliances, home security gateways, digital signage, displays, point-of-sale systems, and smart speakers.
These will be complemented by a power-optimized version called the SR-Series, although Synaptics is not giving the power figures for any of the devices..
These are combined with the adaptive open-source AI framework, a partner-based ecosystem, and seamless and robust wireless connectivity.
“The SL-Series delivers on the high-performance end of a roadmap of scalable edge AI IoT compute solutions and will soon be complemented by our power-optimized AI-enabling SR-Series of MCUs,” said Vikram Gupta, SVP & GM IoT Processors and Chief Product Officer at Synaptics. “Combined with our easy-to-use AI frameworks, customers will be able to bring intelligent IoT products to the market quickly.”
“Edge AI is transforming use cases across markets including smart home, city, agriculture, and retail,” said Paul Williamson, SVP and GM, IoT Line of Business at ARM. “The Arm-powered Astra platform will deliver the performance and intelligence needed for this next generation of AI experiences.”
The Astra Machina Foundation Series development kit supports the SL-Series. The kit helps AI developers use the AI, processing and graphics performance, and matching wireless connectivity, starting with Synaptics’ SYN43711 and SYN43752 WiFi and Bluetooth combo SoCs.
The SL-Series processors are available now. The Astra Machina Foundation Series development kit will be available in Q2, 2024.
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