➀ Ubitium, a RISC-V startup, is developing a universal processor that combines CPU, GPU, DSP, and FPGA functionalities.➁ The processor, based on a workload-agnostic microarchitecture, aims to revolutionize the industry.➂ The chip is scheduled to be released in two years, but the timeline might be more aspirational than concrete.
Recent #RISC-V news in the semiconductor industry
➀ Sales of RISC-V chips are unprofitable for companies, and RISC-V suppliers are discussing chip architectures at SC conferences.
➁ RISC-V's performance is far from comparable to x86 and ARM processors.
➂ RISC-V is highly flexible and suitable for small chips, and can be paired with any type of interconnect, storage, or I/O.
➀ Mouser has launched its RISC-V resource center to educate design engineers on the latest technology and applications. The center provides articles, blogs, eBooks, and products from Mouser’s technical team and manufacturing partners. It discusses how RISC-V is advancing machine learning closer to the edge in various devices.➁ Mouser offers a range of semiconductors and electronic components for RISC-V applications, including Renesas Electronics’ RISC-V MCU Fast Prototyping Board and Raspberry Pi Pico 2.➃ The resource center explores the benefits of RISC-V technology in areas such as consumer electronics, industrial sensors, and healthcare devices.
➀ The importance of asking the right questions to IP vendors and ensuring functional models are in place; ➁ The challenges of verifying CPU IP, especially high-performance designs; ➂ The role of RISC-V in the open-source ecosystem and the importance of collaboration among vendors.
➀ lowRISC CIC and SCI Semiconductor collaborate to tape out the Sonata design; ➁ The collaboration aims to move CHERI technology to commercial adoption; ➂ The project is funded by UKRI and focuses on the ICENI device family for OT applications.
➀ FPGAs can be made more programmable by integrating a soft-core RISC-V processor; ➁ Loren Hobbs from Bluespec discusses the implementation of this concept; ➂ The benefits of improved programmability are highlighted.
➀ The evolving verification requirements of RISC-V as the architecture gains adoption; ➁ The role of standardization and infrastructure in supporting RISC-V’s growth; ➂ Challenges and opportunities in open-source functional verification for RISC-V.
➀ Semidynamics introduces a unified, programmable solution with a single software stack for Core, Vector, and Tensor processing units; ➁ The company's 'All-in-One IP' solution addresses the challenges of data availability and processing for AI applications; ➂ Semidynamics leverages RISC-V architecture for adaptability and control, offering configurable and customizable IP solutions.
➀ The DVCon Europe 2024 conference highlighted the rise of AI and software in design and verification. ➁ Keynotes from Infineon and Zyphra discussed AI microcontroller architectures and datacenter-scale AI systems. ➃ Software-defined vehicles and open-source technologies like RISC-V were also key topics.
➀ RISC-V firm Milk-V demonstrates compatibility of AMD's RX 7900 XTX GPU with its RISC-V board; ➁ The system runs the glmark2 benchmark on Debian Linux; ➂ Milestone for RISC-V in PCs, though not yet widely adopted.
1. China emphasizes digital and intelligent development, focusing on digital economy growth and integration of the internet, big data, AI, and real economy.
2. SimCom Computer Technology Co., Ltd. (SimCom) is a company dedicated to RISC-V-based AI processors, providing a comprehensive solution for digital transformation.
3. SimCom's products include Jiuzhou large model, Xuan Shu data governance platform, and Qingtian intelligent agent development platform, creating an efficient data processing ecosystem.
4. SimCom's RISC-V-based solutions aim to address the AI computing power anxiety and provide a stable and secure computing environment.
➀ Fractile and Andes Technology collaborate to develop AI inference accelerators using in-memory compute for running cutting-edge AI models; ➁ Fractile licenses Andes AX45MPV RISC-V vector processor and plans to integrate it into their first generation data center AI inference accelerator; ➂ Fractile's innovative circuitry enables 99.99% of model inference operations in on-chip memory, improving energy efficiency and reducing latency.
➀ Lumissil Microsystems introduces a specialized RISC-V microcontroller for touch-controlled LED interfaces; ➁ Two versions are available, one for industrial and one for automotive use; ➂ The microcontroller features an LED matrix driver, touch controller, and sound feedback capabilities.
➀ Nvidia and Google are discussing the use of RISC-V architecture at the RISC-V Summit;
➁ Nvidia has been using RISC-V CPU architecture for nine years and will have a 20-minute keynote speech at the summit;
➂ Google employees, including Cliff Young, the designer of TPU, will discuss the advantages of RISC-V in AI chips;
➃ RISC-V is gaining influence as companies seek cheaper and faster CPU design methods;
➄ Apple is also using RISC-V microcontrollers in its M series CPUs;
➅ RISC-V is trying to capture a market tired of proprietary options like x86 and ARM;
➆ Omdia predicts that by 2030, the shipment of RISC-V processors may reach 17 billion, with about 46% for automotive use;
➇ RISC faces challenges such as security issues and political concerns;
➈ Alibaba has released a new chip for embedded devices with many new security extensions;
➉ Some companies have discussed selling RISC-V chips, but manufacturing issues will not be widely discussed at the summit.
➀ Codasip has announced the L730 RISC core designed for automotive safety and security, meeting ISO/SAE 21434 and ISO 26262 compliance up to ASIL D. The core includes optional safety features and security mechanisms. ➁ The L730 is available in pre-verified configurations with custom instruction extensions via Codasip Studio Fusion's Bounded Customization. ➂ The core supports RISC-V Scalar Crypto Extension and CHERI for advanced memory safety. Custom Compute is enabled by Codasip Studio Fusion, allowing for optimized processors for specific applications.
➀ Jianxin Technology remains optimistic about the future applications of the RISC-V architecture across various fields, particularly in AI, automotive electronics, and IoT. ➁ The company expects a significant increase in licensing fee revenue in the second half of 2024 as customer projects restart. ➂ The royalty revenue is also expected to grow as chips begin mass production. ➃ Despite previous losses due to increased research and development expenses, Jianxin Technology is expected to achieve profitability in the fourth quarter of 2024.
➀ A non-silicon flexible and programmable chip has been developed by scientists. It features a low-power 32-bit microprocessor that can operate when bent and run machine learning workloads. The open-source RISC-V architecture of the chip suggests it could cost less than a dollar, making it suitable for wearable medical electronics, smart packaging labels, and other inexpensive items.
➁ The chip, named Flex-RV, is a 32-bit microprocessor based on indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) and is designed to be much cheaper than silicon processors.
➂ RISC-V, introduced in 2010, aims to create smaller, lower-power, and more powerful processors by simplifying the core instruction set they can execute. It is free and open-source, allowing chip designers to avoid expensive licensing fees associated with proprietary architectures like x86 and ARM.
➀ Scientists have created a flexible, programmable chip not made of silicon; ➁ The chip operates while bent and can run machine learning workloads; ➂ The microchip's open-source RISC-V architecture suggests it might cost less than a dollar; ➃ The chip could power wearable healthcare electronics, smart package labels, and other inexpensive items; ➄ The chip is based on the RISC-V instruction set and is programmable, running compiled programs in high-level languages; ➅ Flex-RV microprocessors can run as fast as 60 kilohertz while consuming less than 6 milliwatts of power; ➆ The researchers found that Flex-RV could still execute programs correctly when bent to a curve with a radius of 3 millimeters; ➇ The scientists detailed their findings in the journal Nature.
➀ The Zijing M100 chip, the first domestic RISC-V-based microcontroller chip with the highest level of localization, was successfully lit up on September 20th, marking a significant breakthrough for Great Wall Motors in the chip industry. The chip, developed by Great Wall Motors, is designed for automotive use, featuring high performance and an autonomous intellectual property. It is set to be integrated into multiple models and is expected to be installed in over 2.5 million vehicles within five years. ➁ The chip's successful lighting represents a substantial step in China's path to chip localization, contributing to the intelligent development of the automotive industry and the pursuit of self-reliance in technology. ➂ Great Wall Motors plans to establish a chip R&D company in Nanjing Research and Innovation Park, leveraging the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Computing Technology to develop automotive MCU function chips and high-performance chips.
➀ SiFive推出针对加速高性能AI工作负载的XM系列；➁ XM系列是SiFive的第一个包含可扩展AI矩阵引擎的IP，旨在加速边缘物联网、消费设备、下一代电动/自动驾驶汽车、数据中心等领域的芯片解决方案上市时间；➂ XM系列采用SiFive Kernel Library (SKL)的开源参考实现，提供高效的内存带宽。