Tailored hardware and software technology stacks reduce entry barriers and accelerate time to market.
As the Internet of Things (IoT), industrial automation, and smart robotics evolve, designing power- and thermally-constrained applications has become increasingly complex. Recognizing the growing demand for faster development cycles and simplified design processes, Microchip Technology has introduced PolarFire FPGA and SoC solution stacks tailored for smart robotics and medical imaging. These offerings extend the company’s robust portfolio, which already includes smart embedded vision, industrial edge, and intelligent edge communications stacks.
The new solution stacks feature comprehensive firmware and IP cores, including AI-assisted 4K60 computer vision capabilities, a variety of sensor and camera interfaces, and integrated hardware for high-speed Ethernet protocols. Real-time ROS-2-compatible cores enable key robotics functionalities such as perception and coordinate transformation, while time-sensitive networking protocols (e.g., OPC/UA) and asymmetric processing support industrial automation needs. Developers can leverage these stacks with versatile software design kits, supporting C/C++, RTL, and machine learning frameworks like the SmartHLS IDE and VectorBlox Accelerator SDK.
Built on PolarFire FPGAs and PolarFire SoC FPGAs, these stacks provide unmatched power efficiency, functional safety certified by IEC61503 SIL 3, and robust cybersecurity protections. These features empower system designers to innovate across medical imaging and robotics applications, offering solutions optimized for compact, thermally stressed environments vulnerable to cyber threats.
A notable innovation is PolarFire FPGA Ethernet Sensor Bridge, designed to interface with NVIDIA Holoscan for real-time sensor data processing. This bridge supports NVIDIA IGX and Jetson platforms, facilitating AI/ML inferencing and advancing edge-to-cloud applications in medical, industrial, and automotive markets. With these new releases, the company strengthens its position as a leader in enabling the next wave of intelligent robotics and medical imaging innovations.
“Our customers face increasing pressure to deliver secure, functionally safe AI-driven automation and portable medical imaging solutions that balance compute power with size and energy constraints,” said Shakeel Peera, vice president of marketing and strategy for Microchip’s FPGA business unit. “Our solution stacks enable rapid deployment of cutting-edge robotics and imaging technologies.”
