Qualcomm Launches World’s First 5G and AI-Enabled Robotics Platform

Qualcomm Systems, Inc., today announced the Qualcomm® Robotics RB5 platform – the Company’s most innovative, built-in, in depth offering intended exclusively for robotics. Creating on the successful Qualcomm® Robotics RB3 platform and its broad adoption in a large array of robotics and drone items available today, the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform is comprised of an comprehensive set of components, software program and progress tools.

Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Development Package. Impression credit: Qualcomm

The Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform is the very first of its sort to convey with each other the Company’s deep expertise in 5G and AI to empower builders and companies to create the next technology of superior-compute, very low-electric power robots and drones for the shopper, enterprise, defense, industrial and skilled company sectors – and the in depth Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Development Package will help guarantee builders have the customization and versatility they need to have to make their visions a business actuality. To date, Qualcomm Systems has engaged many main businesses that have endorsed the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, like twenty+ early adopters in the method of analyzing the platform (see endorsement estimates down below).

On top of that, 30+ ecosystem gamers are establishing vital components and software program to allow numerous robotics purposes these include the pursuing businesses: 96Boards, Acontis, ADLINK, AirMap, AirServe, Airtonomy, AlwaysAI, Augmented Pixels, Autocore, Autoware Foundation, Canonical, DeepEdge.ai, DreamVu, Dronecode, Fractal.ai, GlobalEdge, Innominds Computer software, InOrbit, Intel RealSense, Lantronix, Linaro, LiteOn, Kudan, ModalAI, Nod, Open up Robotics, Panasonic, PathPartners, Pilot.AI, Shoreline IoT, SLAMCORE, TDK, Thundercomm, and Tier IV.

The platform’s Qualcomm QRB5165 processor, personalized for robotics purposes, presents a powerful heterogeneous computing architecture coupled with the main fifth-technology Qualcomm® AI Engine providing fifteen Tera Operations Per Second (TOPS) of AI general performance for running intricate AI and deep finding out workloads. The processor also presents amazing machine finding out (ML) inferencing at the edge underneath limited electric power budgets applying the new Qualcomm® Hexagon™ Tensor Accelerator (HTA), a powerful picture signal processor (ISP) with assist for seven concurrent cameras, and a committed laptop or computer vision engine for improved video analytics (EVA). With assist for 4G and 5G connectivity speeds through a companion module, the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will help pave the way for the proliferation of 5G in robotics and intelligent programs.

With the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform and the Qualcomm QRB5165 processor, the Corporation enables numerous design and style choices like off-the-shelf technique-on-module options and adaptable chip-on-board patterns. The answer is available in a number of solutions, like business and industrial-quality temperature ranges and an alternative for extended lifecycle until eventually 2029.

“Qualcomm Systems is the world’s main wi-fi technology innovator with a powerful foundation in AI, mobile computing and connectivity. By making use of its deep-rooted mobile programs expertise to the robotics marketplace, Qualcomm Systems is serving to to allow the generation of far more powerful, safe, and intelligent robots than at any time prior to,” explained Dev Singh, senior director, business development and head of autonomous robotics, drones and intelligent devices, Qualcomm Systems, Inc. “With the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, Qualcomm Systems will help accelerate expansion in a large array of robotics segments these kinds of as autonomous mobile robots (AMR), delivery, inspection, inventory, industrial, collaborative robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), enabling Industry four. robotics use cases, and laying the foundation for the UAV Site visitors Administration (UTM) house.”

To allow the next technology of robotics options and patterns, Qualcomm Systems has entered into a strategic collaboration with TDK to even more boost the capabilities of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform. TDK has included their newest state of the artwork sensor systems for improved robotics purposes as component of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform and they have been instrumental in giving planet class sensor options and motor management components.

The Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Development Package is in depth, customizable and quick-to-use. Builders have adaptable software program capabilities, with the platform offering assist for Linux, Ubuntu and Robotic Functioning Program (ROS) two., as effectively as pre-built-in motorists for numerous cameras, sensors and 5G connectivity. It also presents assist for OpenCL, OpenGLES and OpenCV. On top of that, the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Development Package contains assist for the Intel® RealSense™ Depth Digital camera D435i and Panasonic TOF Digital camera to provide main depth-sensing capabilities.  Our strategic collaboration with TDK has been integral in enabling our Qualcomm RB5 Robotics Development Package with TDK’s 6-axis, superior general performance ICM-42688-P IMU, accompanied by a ICP-10111 barometric stress and a T5818 Electronic (PDM) bottom port microphone. TDK also enables the progress package with their ultrasonic Time-Of-Flight CH101 and CH201 options, in addition to their embedded motor management (HVC4223F) and superior general performance IMU with developed-in redundancy (IIM-46220). Extra systems by TDK include Hall outcome and temperature sensors and validated and confirmed software program algorithms committed to robotic purposes. Finally, the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Development Package utilizes 96Boards Consumer Edition Specification which will help present versatility for creating ground breaking evidence-of-ideas and fast prototyping.

Essential Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform technological options include:

  • Strong Heterogeneous Computing Capabilities: For superior electric power computing general performance, the Qualcomm QRB5165 processor of Qualcomm RB5 Platform integrates Octa Main Qualcomm® Kryo™ 585 CPU, powerful Qualcomm® Adreno™ 650 GPU, a number of DSPs (compute, audio and sensor) and ISPs. It also contains a committed, powerful AI engine, which contains the Hexagon Tensor Accelerator, and committed laptop or computer vision components block (EnhancedVideo Analytics engine)
  • 5th Generation Qualcomm AI Engine: New committed Hexagon Tensor Accelerator is dependent on the main fifth-technology Qualcomm Artificial Intelligence Engine, providing a whopping fifteen TOPS of AI general performance with superior AI and ML inferencing.
  • Advanced Imaging Capacity: Qualcomm Spectra™ 480 Impression Sign Processor (ISP) captures quick, skilled-excellent images and films, and can method two Gigapixels per 2nd. This Gigapixel pace supports top-quality digicam options, like Dolby Vision video capture, 8K video recording (at 30 FPS) and 200-megapixel images, and at the same time captures 4K HDR video (at a hundred and twenty FPS) and sixty four MP images with zero shutter lag. The components accelerator utilizes the Engine for Video clip Analytics (EVA) to take care of all Pc Vision (CV) duties. Extra ISP options include HEIF image capture, gradual motion video capture, and innovative video capture formats (like Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HEVC and HLG). Seven concurrent cameras aid simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), object detection and classification, autonomous navigation and path arranging to successfully and properly conduct duties in intricate indoor and outside configurations.
  • Safety Help: The Qualcomm® Safe Processing Device is intended to present sturdy protection with out compromising electric power. The Qualcomm Safe Processing Device contains safe boot, cryptographic accelerators, Qualcomm® Dependable Execution Setting (TEE) and digicam protection and is FIPS one hundred forty-two licensed. Extra protection options include crucial provisioning protection, malware defense, Qualcomm® Information Protection, Qualcomm® Cellular Safety, Qualcomm® Processor Safety, and safe token to assist distant attestation and safe product provisioning. For innovative AI and ML protection, the platform supports Biometric Authentication (like fingerprint, iris, voice, and facial area).
  • Connectivity: The Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform supports lengthy-vary Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth five.one, and 4G and 5G, giving the maximum degree of connectivity available.

Buyer and Lover Endorsements for Qualcomm Technologies’ Robotics Methods:

“We are quite fired up to assist the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform as the newest addition to the 96Boards.AI initiative,” explained Dr. Yang Zhang, director, 96Boards. “Qualcomm Robotics RB5 featuring QRB5165 Robotics Processor, is the very first 96Boards compliant platform offering 5G, AI, Heterogeneous Computing, Pc Vision Engine, Advanced ISP Multi-Digital camera Concurrency for a significant vary of purposes. With our associates, we imagine this products will revolutionize the robotic and drone current market as we know today. We are pleased to see our member Qualcomm Systems continue on to supply its motivation to the broader developer ecosystem, with a obvious path for output.”

“EtherCAT is a easy, sturdy, inexpensive, ethernet-dependent industrial protocol with built-in security that delivers fantastic general performance in adaptable topologies earning it great for industrial robotics purposes,” explained Jon Waters, president and common supervisor, Acontis. “We are delighted to see Qualcomm Systems identify the great importance of EtherCAT for robotics purposes and earning it available as component of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Platform. We are fired up to collaborate with Qualcomm Systems to proliferate EtherCAT adoption  across numerous robotics purposes.”

“ADLINK is quite pleased to assist the launch of Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform. As a international leader in edge computing, ADLINK is fully commited to serving our buyers across industries with chopping-edge systems in AI, machine vision and Industrial IoT,” explained Henry Hu, international business development director, ADLINK Technological know-how INC. “We are fired up to be a single of the early adopters to embark on a series of new developments dependent on Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform. By harnessing the electric power of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform’s Qualcomm AI Engine and 5G connectivity, ADLINK will be in a position to noticeably leverage our deep expertise in heterogeneous computing and marketplace-quality ruggedness, and in the long run allow a broad vary of next-technology purposes these kinds of as autonomous mobile robots, industrial robots, and unmanned aerial vehicles.”

“Today’s Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform builds on our continued do the job with Qualcomm Systems to help builders conveniently establish intelligent robotics features applying AWS cloud companies,” explained Roger Barga, common supervisor, robotics and automation companies, Amazon Internet Services, Inc. “Our collaboration with Qualcomm Systems is intended to give robotics builders a comprehensive cloud to edge answer, accelerating progress, giving intelligence out of the box, and easing robotic lifecycle administration.”

“AutoCore.ai is pleased to announce its assist of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform products launch. AutoCore specializes in purposeful security actual time middleware and heterogeneous computing platform design and style. We are fired up to allow AutoCore’s main offering onto the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, leveraging the wealthy characteristic sets, as effectively as its flexibility and electric power effectiveness to reward AutoCore’s target buyers from the industrial automation, robotics and AGV current market,” claims Cheng Chen, chief technology officer, AutoCore.

“Autoware Foundation is also pleased to assist Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform launch. Autoware Foundation is a non-earnings organization founded to create, assist and advertise autonomous technique technology. Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform matches quite effectively with the Autoware.io heterogeneous computing platform tactic,” claims Shinpei Kato, chairman, Autoware Foundation.

“Today’s international events have introduced the worth of automation and robotics sharply into concentration, so it is enjoyable to see Qualcomm Systems handle these kinds of a broad array of robotics types and purposes with its improved platform, which powers the world’s biggest fleet of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) functioning in indoor public spaces by means of its BrainOS software program technology. Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will provide a big innovation improve to the marketplace at significant, while maximizing San Diego’s name as a international hub for AI and robotics,” claims Dr. Jean Baptiste Passot, vice president, platform and AI, San Diego-dependent Brain Corp.

“The new Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform is a recreation changer for drone and autonomous robotics, as its machine finding out accelerators will make it possible for adopters to switch handbook inputs with AI,” claims Lorenz Meier, chief executive officer, Auterion and chairman, Dronecode.

“We imagine the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will present a significant gain for our next-technology unmanned programs,” claims, Roger Wells, vice president and common supervisor, unmanned programs and built-in options, FLIR.”

“LG is analyzing the Qualcomm Robotics RB3/RB5 Platform, and ideas to introduce next-technology robotic items dependent on the platform next year,” claims LG Electronics Inc.

“As the main e-commerce platform for companies, Meituan has invested in logistics and autonomous delivery for years and held exploring the prospects of marketplace purposes with the improvements these kinds of as drones and driverless delivery vehicles. Meituan is anticipating to cooperate with Qualcomm Systems in the upcoming to check out the chopping-edge use cases in the marketplace by applying the capabilities of Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform in the regions like computing, AI, protection and connectivity to supply ground breaking companies to our buyers,” claims Meituan Dianping.

“The amazing quantity of AI processing and 5G capabilities developed into the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will allow new autonomous drone encounters, these kinds of as navigating promptly by means of restricted spaces while mapping the setting for objects of fascination. We glance forward to functioning with Qualcomm Systems and integrating the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform to establish off of our existing do the job with the Defense Innovation Device to increase the capabilities of our sUAS platforms,” claims Chad Sweet, chief executive officer, ModalAI.

“The new Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform from Qualcomm Systems is a desire chipset arrive correct. The platform integrates crucial capabilities these kinds of as superior-general performance heterogeneous computing, 5G/LTE, the Qualcomm AI Engine for on-product inferencing and laptop or computer vision, hello-fidelity sensor processing for notion, odometry for localization, mapping, navigation, powerful protection, and Wi-Fi connectivity, all needed for NXT Robotics’ two autonomous AI pushed protection patrol and public security vehicles referred to as Maverick and Scorpion. The Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform allows us to leverage adaptable design and style solutions for the progress and commercialization of our RobotogoAI autonomous platform allowing us to speedily move from new characteristic prototype to full commercialization,” claims Darin Andersen, chief executive officer, cofounder, NXT Robotics Corp.

“Open Robotics is the hub of a international local community, creating and making use of open software program and components platforms for robotics. In our do the job we aim to lessen the barrier to entry into the industry for college students, researchers, software builders, and business owners alike. So I’m fired up to see the release of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, which will help to spur nonetheless far more innovation in robotics across a wide variety of software domains,” claims Brian Gerkey, chief executive officer, Open up Robotics.

“We have lengthy-standing deep cooperation with Qualcomm Systems dependent on Qualcomm Robotics RB3 platform to provide our buyers with chopping-edge items. The freshly introduced Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will convey the marketplace with technology choices like the improved electric power-effectiveness, heterogeneous computing, AI, machine finding out and 5G capabilities. OrionStar is searching forward to increasing our collaborations to the new Qualcomm Robotic RB5 platform to supply the unparalleled robotic items and serious interactive encounters,” claims Bruce Wang, chief tactic officer, OrionStar.

“5G and AI systems have demonstrated its powerful driving drive as marketplace transitions to a new period. We are happy to turn into a single of the very first in the marketplace to undertake the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform. Siasun operates closely with Qualcomm Systems, with the powerful computing functionality of up to fifteen TOPS dependent on the 5th technology Qualcomm AI Engine and other innovative options, Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will give Siasun Pongbot ping-pong robotic technique far more prospects like gentle-weight mobility, distant actual-time interaction of a number of products, actual-time AI computing and feedback on cloud,” claims Luo Yang, vice president, Siasun.

“We are fired up about the promise that the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform holds for the tiny Unmanned Air Vehicle (sUAV) marketplace. As the main U.S. manufacturer of autonomous drones, we leverage breakthrough laptop or computer vision and AI to create the world’s most intelligent flying devices. The chopping edge 4G/LTE, 5G, heterogeneous compute, AI, digicam, and protection systems built-in into the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will allow us to create the next technology autonomous drones,”  Abe Bachrach, chief technology officer, co-founder, Skydio, Inc.

“SoftBank Robotics has been functioning in deep cooperation with Qualcomm Systems. Our R&D will leverage the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, applying its electric power-economical and superior-close wi-fi connectivity options to empower our robotics roadmap.” claims Xavier Lacherade, chief functioning officer, SoftBank Robotics Europe.

“We are proud that we are an integral husband or wife of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform launch and tactic,” explained Scott Deutsch, common supervisor and vice president, all over the world revenue and marketing, InvenSense, a TDK team firm. “TDK’s innovative, built-in, and in depth robotic sensor choices are intended exclusively for the next technology very low-electric power, superior general performance sensing robots and are significant to the wants of today’s OEM progress groups.”

“Thundercomm is a planet-main IoT products and answer company. With our years’ encounter and expertise in the fields of AI and IoT, we can provide confirmed close to close options to accelerate  customers’ progress interval and business cycle,” claims Hiro Cai, chief executive officer, Thundercomm. “Together with Qualcomm Systems, we have empowered our buyers to design and style and manufacture intelligent robots in various industries. Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, as an innovative 5G and AI-dependent robotics platform, satisfies the superior demand from customers of marketplace transformation, and encourages industrial upgrading. We are fired up to cooperate with Qualcomm Systems to create a large array of robotics items for next technology.”

“As a main autonomous driving software program developer and technique integrator of Autoware, the main open supply Ad software program, Tier IV is quite fired up at the prospect of functioning with Qualcomm Systems and their buyers to ramp up the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform-dependent options targeting the autonomous automobile current market. The superior general performance, optimized architecture and comprehensive processing capabilities will allow the next technology of electric power and price tag optimized AV platforms running Autoware and allow broader availability of Ad technology to reward a large vary of purposes and companies,” claims Dr. Kazuya Takeda, representative director, Tier IV, Inc.

Industrial items dependent on the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform are envisioned to be available in 2020. For far more facts and to start out establishing items dependent on the platform, please visit the Qualcomm® Developer Network webpage and the Qualcomm Technologies’ product webpage. A progress package for the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform is available for pre-order now from Thundercomm’s webpage.

Resource: Qualcomm