Microchip Technology has announced the release of its PolarFire® FPGA Ethernet Sensor Bridge, a new solution designed to enable the development of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven sensor processing systems compatible with NVIDIA’s Holoscan platform. This innovation streamlines sensor integration while addressing the demands of high-performance and low-latency edge AI applications.
Expanding Capabilities with PolarFire FPGA Technology
The PolarFire FPGA platform supports multiple protocols, starting with MIPI® CSI-2® sensors and the MIPI D-PHY℠ physical layer. Future enhancements are expected to incorporate a wider array of sensors using interfaces such as SLVS-EC™ 2.0, 12G SDI, CoaXPress® 2.0, and JESD204B. This platform enables developers to leverage NVIDIA Holoscan’s edge AI capabilities while benefiting from the power-efficient design and low-latency communication provided by PolarFire FPGA technology.
Real-time Processing for Critical Applications
NVIDIA Holoscan consolidates the essential hardware and software required for real-time sensor data processing and high-performance computing (HPC). The platform includes:
- Optimized libraries for data processing.
- Sample AI models for pipeline development.
- Template applications for rapid prototyping.
- Core microservices for streaming, imaging, and related tasks.
The PolarFire FPGA Ethernet Sensor Bridge facilitates the connection of real-time sensor data to the NVIDIA Holoscan, IGX, and Jetson platforms. This capability supports diverse applications, including AI/ML inference and edge-to-cloud solutions in the medical, industrial, and automotive sectors.
Reliability, Security, and Efficiency
Microchip’s PolarFire FPGA technology ensures the efficient handling of high-bandwidth data over Ethernet, enabling reliable, real-time edge AI processing on NVIDIA platforms. The energy-efficient design is particularly suitable for applications with small form factors or cost and energy constraints.
The platform also addresses critical security concerns by integrating features that safeguard physical, device, design, and data integrity. Additionally, its single event upset (SEU) immunity ensures reliability in radiation-prone environments, such as space, high-altitude, and medical applications, reducing the risk of data corruption and system failures.
Enabling the Future of Edge AI
“The Ethernet sensor bridge is based on Microchip’s highly power-efficient, secure and reliable PolarFire FPGA platform,” said Bruce Weyer, vice president of Microchip’s FPGA business unit. “By combining our flexible FPGA fabric with NVIDIA’s advanced AI platform and multi-protocol support, we’re empowering developers to create innovative, real-time solutions that will revolutionize sensor interfaces across a wide range of powerful AI-driven edge applications.”
For more information about the PolarFire FPGA Ethernet Sensor Bridge, please click here.
Source/Photo Credit: Microchip Technology
About Microchip:
Microchip Technology Inc. provides embedded control and processing solutions for industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace, defense, communications, and computing markets. The company supports approximately 123,000 customers globally with development tools and a wide-ranging product portfolio aimed at streamlining design and development processes. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip delivers technical support, quality, and reliable product delivery. For more information, visit www.microchip.com.
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