New Processor Series Moves Computing Power Nearer to Sensor, Alleviating Need to Push All Processing to Data Center The Internet of Things (IoT) is linking billions of smart and connected devices to each other, creating a wave of change in how we live and work. The number of connected machines is expected to dramatically increase by 2020, 50 billion devices (Cisco IBSG) will create 44 zettabytes (of 44 trillion gigabytes) of data annually, and will require much more processing power at the edge, and in the fog to network in order to maintain viability.
To support these experiences, today at IoT Solutions World Congress, Intel is announcing the latest generation of the Intel Atom processors for IoT applications. The new Intel Atom processor E3900 series is designed from the ground up to support the rapid development and the growing complexity of IoT businesses. The result is a processor exceptionally capable of delivering on performance, processing and scalability. Inside its compact form factor, customers can achieve new levels of security, determinism, and image and video processing power. This will help fuel innovative IoT applications across industrial, video, manufacturing, retail and more. The Intel Atom processor A3900 series will specifically provide automotive-grade, in-vehicle experiences, with more details to come in 2017.
Faster, Stronger, Better Processing and Sensor Integration at the Edge
The Intel Atom processor E3900 series will make the edge and fog more intelligent – enabling many of the processing needs to take place at or near the data sensor and alleviating the need to push all processing to the data center. Fog computing, also known as fog networking, is a decentralized computing infrastructure in which computing resources and application services are distributed in the most logical place at any point from the data source to the cloud.
As an example, consider traffic cams and sensor data. There are significant downsides to sending data to a server for analysis, such as loss due to video compression and time spent in travel, versus having the ability to process data at the device. In the automotive industry, the software-defined cockpit is also where this edge computing capability can make a difference. The ability for a single system to drive the digital gauges, navigation and advance driver assist functions is the trend. It is important that backup sensors, bird’s-eye view parking or side collision alter function in a reliable response time, regardless of what the media or navigation system is doing at that time.
With more than 1.7 times more computing power over the previous generation1, the E3900 Series is designed to enable faster memory speeds and memory bandwidth to provide the efficient processing capability needed for edge to cloud network computing.Built into a compact flip chip ball grid array (FCBGA) and featuring fourteen nanometer silicon technology, the Intel Atom processor E3900 series is perfect for a wide range of IoT applications, where scalable performance, space and power are at a premium. Additional new features and capabilities include:
- Pristine graphics for media-rich applications: The processor series featuresIntel’s ninth-generation graphics engine that improves 3-D graphics performance by 2.9 times over the previous generation2, and supports as many as three independent displays.
- Advanced image processing to support all types of vision system needs:The E3900 series has four vector image processing units, resulting in better visibility, quality video in low light, noise reduction, and color and detail preservation.
- Faster connections to keep devices in sync: Intel Time Coordinated Computing Technology coordinates and synchronizes peripherals and networks of connected devices. By synchronizing clocks inside the system on a chip (SoC) and across the network, Intel Time Coordinated Computing Technology can achieve network accuracy to within a microsecond.
