Texas Instruments has unveiled a new portfolio of high-performance microcontroller units, the Sitara AM2x MCUs, that integrate advanced memory processing capabilities, with the aim of addressing a growing number of industrial applications that require both high performance and richer memory.
Applications like industrial robotics need the microcontroller (MCU) ability for functionality, safety and security, but also enough memory to support functions like real-time processing for precise motor control, said Mike Pienovi, general manager of TI’s Sitara MCUs.
“We’re addressing the performance gap between flash-based MCUs and processors,” he said. “The need for faster decision-making and just the ability to process more data are two of the general trends we’re seeing.”
Sitara said the more integrated MCU and MPU model of the Sitara line enables 10 times more computing capability than traditional, flash-based MCUs, along with better processing of data for distributed systems like those on smart factory floors or intelligent automotive systems.
The Sitara portfolio is built around high-performance Arm MCU cores, and includes sub-families of single and multicore devices running at speeds up to 1 GHz, along with integrated specialized peripherals and accelerators.
The first family of devices available in the AM2x portfolio will be the AM243x, which feature up to four Arm Cortex-R5F cores, each running up to 800 MHz, a processing speed which makes them appropriate applications like robotics, “where fast computations coupled with the MCU’s internal memory enhance a robot’s precision of motion and speed of movement, translating to higher productivity,” TI said in its announcement press release.
The additional processing capability allows for more analytics in these applications, but still while consuming less than 1 watt of active power. The Sitara AM243x MCUs also integrate sensing and actuation peripherals to enable low-latency real-time processing and control for factory automation as well as communications accelerators to simplify industrial networking.
“These new MCUs will allow our traditional microcontroller customers to do a lot more, while traditional memory processor customers get better ease of use and control, better security and lower cost,” Pienovi said.
TI also is aiming to help customers on the software end of things with the Sitara AM243x LaunchPad Development Kit. With this evaluation tool and the Sitara MCU+ software framework, developers can immediately start using the precision real-time control and out-of-the-box networking capabilities in the AM243x MCU, TI said.
Developers also have access to application-specific reference examples, a strong ecosystem of tools and software, and the MCU+ Academy training portal to help them streamline designs and accelerate time to market. Pre-production version of some AM2x family members already are available at TI.com.
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