Qualcomm introduced seven new IoT processors on Tuesday to help different industries with a wide range of performance along with Wi-Fi 6 and 5G connectivity. In some cases, AI acceleration is supported.
The chipmaker is betting big on Internet of Things tech with the move even as industrial IoT technology has been considered by many to be slow to get off the ground. Qualcomm named 18 different device makers including Honeywell that will incorporate the chipsets into their own devices and designs to appear later this year and next year.
In all, the company claims more than 13,000 IoT customers, many processing enormous volumes of video and audio data in edge devices including videoconferencing systems that have gained global popularity during the pandemic. However, devices under development with the new chips cross several verticals: agriculture, buildings, retail, construction, logistics and energy.
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In one example, IoT device distributor Hongtech based in Taiwan said the premier processor in the group -- the QCS8250 with its AI computing platform -- will run inside a SMARC (Smart Mobility Architecture) module from iBase and a video conference solution from Aver, available in first half 2022.
Separately, Videri said it will use the 8250 chipset for its next-gen AI-based retail visual experience platform. Also, Amtran will use the 8250 for fine-tuned video and audio processing used in videoconferencing.
Nagaraju Naik, senior director for IoT project management at Qualcomm, said the 8250 could function in fleet management, allowing AI to work with cameras that can detect when a driver gets drowsy or uses a cell phone or at other times when the driver’s eyes leave the road.
Qualcomm listed the 8250 as its top tier chip of the group for greater power efficiency with AI at the edge and support for Wi-Fi 6 and 5G connectivity. It works with Qualcomm’s Kryo 585 CPU architecture and the Qualcomm AI Engine to support up to seven concurrently-running cameras with 4K resolution at 120 frames per second. Its Hexagon processor delivers 15 TOPS of AI performance, according to a slide preview Qualcomm provided.
The QCS6490 and QCM6490 processors include integrated 5G Wave/sub-6 GHz and support for Wi-Fi 6E, useful for ruggedized handhelds and tablets, industrial scanners and human-machine interface systems. The company also announced the QCS4290 and QCM4290 for cameras, industrial handhelds and security panels.
Also, the QCS2290 and QCM2290 are entry-level chips for cost-effective IoT systems such as point of sale devices, tracking and some camera applications, among others. Qualcomm did not disclose pricing.