Software accelerates artificial intelligence workloads

Artificial intelligence (AI) –specific tiles make up a library used by eSilicon in its 7nm FinFET newASIC AI IP platform. The AI Accelerator tiles can be configured to support an AI algorithm and map high-level AI workloads to the neuASIC platform and estimate power, performance, area (PPA) for the algorithm in the silicon implementation.

The combination of neuASIC IP and the AI Accelerator software allows designers to explore architectures to ensure the design will be within the target specifications. eSilicon explains that this approach supports changes to the algorithm or the package.

AI Accelerator is available in IP Navigator, eSilicon’s IP exploration and evaluation tool, at no charge. 

eSilicon provides complex FinFET ASICs, market-specific IP platforms and advanced 2.5D packaging. The ASIC-proven, differentiating IP includes highly configurable 7nm 56G/112G SerDes plus networking-optimised 16/14/7nm FinFET IP platforms featuring HBM2 (high bandwidth memory) PHY (physical layer), ternary content-addressable memory (TCAM), specialised memory compilers and I/O libraries. 

The neuASIC platform provides AI-specific IP and a modular design methodology to create adaptable, efficient AI ASICs. eSilicon serves the high-bandwidth networking, high-performance computing, AI and 5G infrastructure markets. 

http://www.esilicon.com
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Adlink takes pallets to the edge with robotic communication

Digital and analogue assets can communicate and collaborate, says Adlink, using its Edge and Vortex DDS edge IoT products. 

The company’s edge IoT products can add intelligence to conveyors. They also find missing inventory, automate bin picking, determine fill levels and connect robots  − all in real-time. Daniel Collins, Adlink IoT director for North America said: “By bringing artificial intelligence (AI) to the edge we’re helping to automate warehouse logistics in a quick and cost-effective way that increases productivity and employee ergonomics. One of our customers decreased the time it takes to build a pallet by 41 per cent, increasing total daily throughput by 200 per cent without disrupting the way employees are used to working.”

The Adlink Edge and Adlink Vortex DDS make pallets and robots intelligent so they can communicate with the world around them, enabling customers to increase pallet profitability, quality inspection, automation, and productivity within the distribution center and manufacturing floor. 

The company will debut its Edge IoT Smart Pallet Experience at Pack Expo, Las Vegas (23 to 25 September) in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Level 1, Lower South Hall booth 6387.

The immersive experience will demonstrate machine vision, AI and robotics technology for warehouse distribution and manufacturing with partners Amazon Web Services (AWS), Intel’s IoT group, and robot maker Rover Robotics. A game-like exhibit will encourage attendees to use hands-on edge IoT technology, stacking pallets against the clock for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Adlink Technology specialises in edge computing and has a mission to reduce the complexity of building IoT systems. Adlink provides the analogue digital link to make machine connectivity simple through edge hardware and edge software to form edge IoT solutions for manufacturing, networking and communications, medical, transportation, power, oil and gas, and government and defence industries. 

Its edge IoT includes embedded building blocks and intelligent computing platforms, fully featured edge platforms, data connectivity and extraction devices, secure software for data movement, and edge IoT apps to monitor, manage, and analyse data-streaming assets and devices.  

(Picture credit: AlexLMX)

http://www.adlinktech.com
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Secure flash memory enhances secure data storage in self-driving cars

Macronix’s secure flash memory has been integrated in Nvidia’s next-generation autonomous driving platforms.

The automotive-grade ArmorFlash memory is being used on the Nvidia Drive AGX Xavier and Drive AGX Pegasus autonomous vehicle computing platforms.

The ArmorFlash memory is secure for data storage in the artificial intelligence (AI)-based Level 2+ advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) through to Level 5 autonomous driving.   

“Our efforts in conjunction with NVIDIA are singularly focused on elevating the security of data in AI-based autonomous driving applications and ultimately, to enhance the safety of drivers,” said Anthony Le, vice president of marketing, Macronix America.

The ArmorFlash memory on the Drive AGX Xavier and Pegasus platforms can provide trusted identification, authentication and encryption features for autonomous driving security requirements.

ArmorFlash offers a combination of mature security technologies, including unique ID, authentication and encryption features. This blend of features enables superior levels of security in a high-density memory device to prevent data from being compromised, claims Macronix.

The ArmorFlash device provides trusted NVM storage of encrypted and integrity-protected assets. The ArmorFlash supports secure communication channel and protocol with the Nvidia Xavier system on a chip (SoC) via cryptographic operations, integrity checks and additional measures against certain security protocol attacks.

The global ADAS market is expected to exceed $67 billion by 2025, fuelled by a compounded annual growth rate of 19 per cent, according to Grand View Research. The research company attributes the growth to increasing government initiatives mandating driver assistance system to lower road accidents and cites expanding adoption of ADAS in small cars as a factor boosting market demand.

http://www.macronix.com

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Integrated Optical Module Reduces Smoke Detector False Alarms

Analog Devices, has introduced the ADPD188BI, an integrated optical module featuring two LEDs, photodiode, and analog front-end (AFE) integrated together in a single package. The high performing AFE offers high ambient light rejection and reduces power consumption to support longer battery life. The two LEDs help reduce false alarms often caused by steam and dust. False alarms are a leading factor in detectors being removed or disabled by consumers. According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly one in four deaths (23%) in the United States occurred where smoke detectors were not working or disable

View the product page, download the data sheet and order samples: http://www.analog.com/ADPD188BI

The ADPD188BI is engineered to meet new UL217 requirements as well as EN54/14604 specifications. Its integrated design uses two colors to separate particle sizes, increasing the ability to detect and classify smoke types and reject nuisance sources.  The ADI solution enables a back-scattering design with closer proximity of the LED to the photodiode, reducing circuit board size and allowing for smaller smoke detectors that are more architecturally compatible for residential and commercial use.

ADPD188BI Product Highlights:

  • • 3.8 mm × 5.0 mm × 0.9 mm module with integrated optical components
  • • Blue (470 nm) and IR (850 nm) LED
  • • Two external sensor inputs
  • • Three 370 mA LED drivers
  • • 20-bit burst accumulator enabling 20 bits per sample period
  • • On-board sample to sample accumulator enabling up to 27 bits per data read
  • • Optimized SNR for signal limited cases
  • • I2C or SPI communications

Pricing and Availability

Product

Full Production

Price Each Per 1,000

Packaging

ADPD188BI

Now

$4.00

24-lead 3.8 x 5.0mm LGA

About Analog Devices

Analog Devices is the leading global high-performance analog technology company dedicated to solving the toughest engineering challenges. We enable our customers to interpret the world around us by intelligently bridging the physical and digital with unmatched technologies that sense, measure, power, connect and interpret. Visit http://www.analog.com.

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