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What you’ll learn:
- What is subthreshold optimized technology (SPOT)?
- Why is SPOT important for AI on the edge?
- What is inside the Apollo510?
Ambiq made a name for itself delivering ultra-low-power microcontrollers based on standard Arm Cortex-M platforms. SPOT, or subthreshold optimized technology, is the company’s chip design approach that requires significantly less power than even competing low-power microcontroller solutions.
I talked with Scott Hanson, Ambiq’s CEO, about their latest Apollo510 (see figure) based on the Arm Cortex-M55 with the Helium ARMv8.1-M machine-learning (ML) and artificial-intelligence (AI) hardware-acceleration support. They also used lower voltages and a more aggressive design with new deep-sleep modes.
Scott noted that more than three quarters of the developers incorporating AI/ML into their applications don’t require a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU). As a result, using the Cortex-M55 provides improved AI/ML performance while keeping power requirements low. The nerualSPOT AI optimized support includes software platforms such as Voice-on-SPOT, HeartKit, SleepKit, and PhysioKit that are designed to work with sensors. They also take advantage of the Helium AI/ML instructions.
The 250-MHz Apollo510 comes with 4 MB of nonvolatile MRAM and 3.75 MB of RAM. MRAM is fast and maintains better write characteristics compared to flash memory. It can handle a range of off-chip memory devices at speeds up to 250 Mtransfers/s via a pair of HexSPI interfaces.
The chip can be used in user interface applications using its 2D/2.5D GPU. It supports memory-in-pixel (MiP) with fast-forward along with a pair of MIPI DSI interfaces that run at 768 Mb/s.
Arm’s TrustZone is the basis for security with the Apollo510 and includes secure-boot support. Ambiq’s secureSPOT offers additional protection against remote attacks. They also provide secure lifecycle management as well as secure debug support that can be toggled on and off.
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