BrainChip + SiFive

[uiux]

https://brainchipinc.com/brainchip-sifive-partner-deploy-ai-ml-at-edge/

BRAINCHIP AND SIFIVE PARTNER TO DEPLOY AI/ML TECHNOLOGY AT THE EDGE

“Employing Akida, BrainChip’s specialized, differentiated AI engine, with high-performance RISC-V processors such as the SiFive Intelligence Series is a natural choice for companies looking to seamlessly integrate an optimized processor to dedicated ML accelerators that are a must for the demanding requirements of edge AI computing,” said Chris Jones, vice president, products at SiFive. “BrainChip is a valuable addition to our ecosystem portfolio”.

BrainChip’s first-to-market neuromorphic processor, Akida, mimics the human brain to analyze only essential sensor inputs at the point of acquisition, processing data with unparalleled efficiency, precision, and economy of energy. Keeping AI/ML local to the chip, independent of the cloud, also dramatically reduces latency while improving privacy and data security.

“We are pleased to partner with SiFive and have the opportunity to have our Akida technology integrated with their market-leading product offerings, creating an efficient combination for edge compute,” said Jerome Nadel, BrainChip CMO. “As we expand our ecosystem of portfolio partners, we want to be sure that these relationships are built on complementary technologies, enabling capabilities, and breadth of environments so that we can expand opportunities to as many potential customers as possible. Driving our technology into a SiFive-based subsystem is exactly the type of partnership that meets these goals.”

BrainChip, SiFive partner to bring AI and ML to edge computing

The integration of BrainChip's Akida technology and SiFive's multi-core capable RISC-V processors is expected to provide an efficient solution for integrated edge AI computing.

venturebeat.com

BrainChip, SiFive partner to bring AI and ML to edge computing

VentureBeat asked Jack Kang, senior vice president of Business Development, Customer Experience (CX), Corporate Marketing at SiFive, a few specific questions about the news and the relevance of the partnership.

VentureBeat: What is the no. 1 business takeaway from this announcement?

Jack Kang: For SiFive, this announcement shows the ongoing uptake of the SiFive Intelligence family of RISC-V-based processor IP. More companies are choosing RISC-V to be part of their product roadmap strategy, and SiFive is the leading provider of commercial RISC-V IP. In the emerging greenfield markets of AI/ML-enabled platforms, such as the edge processing market targeted by BrainChip, the performance per area and efficiency advantages of SiFive processor architecture make the SiFive Intelligence family a competitive choice.


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SiFive and DARPA collaborate to bring the power of RISC-V to Technology Innovation

www.sifive.com

SiFive and DARPA collaborate to bring the power of RISC-V to Technology Innovation

DARPA adds RISC-V to its Toolbox: Defense researchers can get special access to SiFive chip designs

Labs offered tech by Arm as well as its upstart rival and others

www.theregister.com

DARPA adds RISC-V to its Toolbox: Defense researchers can get special access to SiFive chip designs

https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/darpa-toolbox-initiative

DARPA Toolbox Initiative

DARPA Toolbox is an Agency-wide effort to provide open licensing opportunities with commercial technology vendors to the researchers behind DARPA programs. DARPA Toolbox provides easy, low-cost, scalable access to state-of-the-art tools and intellectual property (IP) under predictable legal terms and streamlined acquisition procedures. The goal is to reduce performer reliance on low-quality, low-cost tools and IP that increase execution risks and complicate post-DARPA transitions.

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Vorago offering both radhard RISC-V and Akida IP

Note the reference to NASAs usage of the two IP's:

"Applications will include miniaturized instruments and subsystems that must operate in harsh environments, interplanetary CubeSats and SmallSats, outer planet instruments and heliophysics missions to harsh radiation environments"

RISC-V:

NASA SBIR 2020-I Solicitation | S3.08-4526 - Fault-Tolerant RISC-V SoC | Proposal Summary

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)

A successful outcome to this project will result in a radiation-hardened RISC-V SoC IC that can be qualified for space flight and provide NASA with a state-of-the-art fault-tolerant solution for missions across all Science Mission Directorate divisions. Applications will include miniaturized instruments and subsystems that must operate in harsh environments, interplanetary CubeSats and SmallSats, outer planet instruments and heliophysics missions to harsh radiation environments.

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
We expect that the device that we are proposing will be extremely interesting to US Government and commercial aerospace customers who have already expressed an interest in using the RISC-V ISA. We expect that this IC will be used in similar applications as NASA use at customers such as Air Force, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, SSL, SEAKR, Bigelow Aerospace, Blue Origin and Spire.


Akida:

https://www.sbir.nasa.gov/SBIR/abstracts/20/sbir/phase1/SBIR-20-1-H6.22-4509.html

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)

NASA applications will include miniaturized instruments and subsystems that must operate in harsh environments, interplanetary CubeSats and SmallSats, instruments bound for outer planets and heliophysics missions to harsh radiation environments. Neural-network and machine learning capabilities are required for robotic vision, navigation, communication, observation and system health management in future autonomous robotic systems.

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)

The greatest potential for the next computing revolution lies in scaling AI to the billions of smaller, power-constrained Edge devices, while making them Rad-Hard. Innovative signal processing and ML techniques will open up new opportunities for SoC architects to deliver new levels of efficient AI performance in microcontrollers targeted at both the space and terrestrial markets.


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https://www.renesas.com/us/en/about/press-room/renesas-and-sifive-partner-jointly-develop-next-generation-high-end-risc-v-solutions-automotive

Renesas and SiFive Partner to Jointly-Develop Next-Generation High-End RISC-V Solutions for Automotive Applications

“RISC-V is an important element in providing additional capabilities and options for new and existing customers,” said Takeshi Kataoka, Senior Vice President, General Manager of Automotive Solution Business Unit at Renesas. “We are very excited to work with SiFive as their lead partner to develop next-generation semiconductor solutions through the collaboration of our accumulated expertise in the automotive field, and SiFive’s high-end RISC-V technologies.”

“We are excited to collaborate with Renesas to develop next-generation automotive solutions powered by the SiFive Intelligence platform,” said Patrick Little, Chairman and CEO, SiFive. “Our roadmap of advanced, high-performance RISC-V processor cores and AI accelerators will deliver significant core performance increases with the capabilities needed to meet Automotive application requirements, along with enhanced AI capabilities to power scalable, workload-accelerated solutions.”

SiFive and Samsung Foundry Extend Partnership to Accelerate AI SoC Development

SiFive, Inc., the industry leader in RISC-V processors and silicon solutions, today announced the next phase of their partnership with Samsung Foundry

www.businesswire.com

SiFive and Samsung Foundry Extend Partnership to Accelerate AI SoC Development

 

[Learning]

SiFive can thrive with a strong RISC-V ecosystem - Tech Monitor

SiFive is making waves in the RISC-V chip space, but will need community support to challenge established designers.

techmonitor.ai

It's great to be a shareholder

 

[Deleted member 118]

SiFive raises $175 million in bid to unseat Arm with RISC-V

The new funding, which values SiFive at $2.5 billion, was designed to help the company establish RISC-V as a real option in the market for third-party chip designs dominated by Arm.

www.protocol.com

 

[Deleted member 118]

SiFive Partners with Intel to Spark Innovation in High-Performance RISC-V Platforms

www.sifive.com

 

[Deleted member 118]

 

[stuart888]

More icing on the cake. These relationships with the System on a Chip manufactures/designers/clients are so great. It appears our point person staff "meet the client" is doing well. Maybe they do that over video now, and not on the airline so much. That would allow a person like Anil to chat to lots more customers.

It is with the customers, that is who we need to shine. Make the customer happy with solutions. There is a massive need for High Tech AI Staff. With a 100+ NDAs, you need some smart folks to deal with all those potential customers. The management saw it coming.

Great positive clues for stockholders are all over the place. I also like the fact not only is Brainchip trying to hire big time, but so is everybody else. This industry is on fire, and Artificial Internet of Things at the Edge is just kicking in. Investing in Brainchip is backed up by the no brainer growth of sensors, smarts, TinyML, and their Spiking Neural Networks appears to be the best. Go Brainchip staff!

 

[Deleted member 118]

SiFive Intelligence™

SiFive Intelligence processors are designed to address the future requirements of AI technology to the edge, with high performance scalar and vector compute capability.

www.sifive.com

 

[Terroni2105]

 

[Deleted member 118]

BrainChip, SiFive partner to bring AI and ML to edge computing

The integration of BrainChip's Akida technology and SiFive's multi-core capable RISC-V processors is expected to provide an efficient solution for integrated edge AI computing.

venturebeat.com

 

[Justchilln]

BrainChip, SiFive partner to bring AI and ML to edge computing

The integration of BrainChip's Akida technology and SiFive's multi-core capable RISC-V processors is expected to provide an efficient solution for integrated edge AI computing.

venturebeat.com

View attachment 4765

View attachment 4766

The Akida chip uses arm IP (cortex processor) yes

 

[Diogenese]

The original BrainChip announcement stated:

BRAINCHIP AND SIFIVE PARTNER TO DEPLOY AI/ML TECHNOLOGY AT THE EDGE​

Laguna Hills, Calif. – April 5, 2022 – BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN, OTCQX: BRCHF, ADR: BCHPY), the world’s first commercial producer of ultra-low power neuromorphic AI chips and IP, and SiFive, Inc., the founder and leader of RISC-V computing, have combined their respective technologies to offer chip designers optimized AI/ML compute at the edge.

Today I received a Twitter link from SiV with a somewhat more nuanced version:

https://www.eetimes.com/sifive-and-brainchip-partner-to-demo-ip-compatibility/
DESIGNLINES AI & BIG DATA DESIGNLINE

SiFive and BrainChip Partner to Demo IP Compatibility​

By Sally Ward-Foxton 04.20.2022

SiFive and BrainChip have partnered to show their IP is compatible in SoC designs for embedded artificial intelligence (AI). The companies have demonstrated BrainChip’s neuromorphic processing unit (NPU) IP working alongside SiFive’s RISC–V host processor IP.

So this is another EAP which has borne fruit. It is actually working ... at least in software. They have interfaced Akida IP with their RISC-V IP. and it's working.

As a follow-up, I had a quick look at SiV's web site.

SiV license their RISC-V IP:

https://www.sifive.com/technology/risc-v

Here’s how it works​

01. Design
Configure a SiFive Core to meet the precise needs of your product.

02. Evaluate
Simulate with fully-functional, synthesizable Verilog RTL. Run your application code on an FPGA. Work with our application team for guidance.

03. License
Licensing is straightforward, and access to your unrestricted RISC-V core IP is available quickly.



And then they have are some interesting friends:

https://www.sifive.com/partners

... and a use case:

https://www.sifive.com/technology/scalable-microarchitectures

Huami designed the world’s first AI-powered wearable processor – Huangshan No. 1 with integrated biometric signal processing. SiFive’s Core IP E31 enabled Huami to reduce power consumption making it more than 38 percent efficient than Arm Cortex-M4.

• Huangshan No. 1 (MHS001) from Huami
• An integrated biometric signal processor using 4 dedicated AL engines and a built-in CNN based interface engine
• 38 percent more efficient than the Arm Cortex-M4
• Powered by SiFive E3

“The world’s first artificial intelligence-powered wearable chipset”

The RISC-V processors are 64-bit CPUs running CNN interface engine, so Akida can do a lot of the heavy lifting (eg, image recognition/classification) and greatly improve power consumption and speed.

Given that SiV lay claim to being the leading RISC-V fabless manufacturers, this could escalate quickly.

 

[Boab]

The original BrainChip announcement stated:

BRAINCHIP AND SIFIVE PARTNER TO DEPLOY AI/ML TECHNOLOGY AT THE EDGE​

Laguna Hills, Calif. – April 5, 2022 – BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN, OTCQX: BRCHF, ADR: BCHPY), the world’s first commercial producer of ultra-low power neuromorphic AI chips and IP, and SiFive, Inc., the founder and leader of RISC-V computing, have combined their respective technologies to offer chip designers optimized AI/ML compute at the edge.

Today I received a Twitter link from SiV with a somewhat more nuanced version:

https://www.eetimes.com/sifive-and-brainchip-partner-to-demo-ip-compatibility/
DESIGNLINES AI & BIG DATA DESIGNLINE

SiFive and BrainChip Partner to Demo IP Compatibility​

By Sally Ward-Foxton 04.20.2022

SiFive and BrainChip have partnered to show their IP is compatible in SoC designs for embedded artificial intelligence (AI). The companies have demonstrated BrainChip’s neuromorphic processing unit (NPU) IP working alongside SiFive’s RISC–V host processor IP.

So this is another EAP which has borne fruit. It is actually working ... at least in software. They have interfaced Akida IP with their RISC-V IP. and it's working.

As a follow-up, I had a quick look at SiV's web site.

SiV license their RISC-V IP:

https://www.sifive.com/technology/risc-v

Here’s how it works​

01. Design
Configure a SiFive Core to meet the precise needs of your product.

02. Evaluate
Simulate with fully-functional, synthesizable Verilog RTL. Run your application code on an FPGA. Work with our application team for guidance.

03. License
Licensing is straightforward, and access to your unrestricted RISC-V core IP is available quickly.



And then they have are some interesting friends:

https://www.sifive.com/partners


View attachment 4838



View attachment 4837



... and a use case:

https://www.sifive.com/technology/scalable-microarchitectures

Huami designed the world’s first AI-powered wearable processor – Huangshan No. 1 with integrated biometric signal processing. SiFive’s Core IP E31 enabled Huami to reduce power consumption making it more than 38 percent efficient than Arm Cortex-M4.

• Huangshan No. 1 (MHS001) from Huami
• An integrated biometric signal processor using 4 dedicated AL engines and a built-in CNN based interface engine
• 38 percent more efficient than the Arm Cortex-M4
• Powered by SiFive E3

“The world’s first artificial intelligence-powered wearable chipset”

The RISC-V processors are 64-bit CPUs running CNN interface engine, so Akida can do a lot of the heavy lifting (eg, image recognition/classification) and greatly improve power consumption and speed.

Given that SiV lay claim to being the leading RISC-V fabless manufacturers, this could escalate quickly.

Love your work Dodgy Knees.

 

[Fact Finder]

The original BrainChip announcement stated:

BRAINCHIP AND SIFIVE PARTNER TO DEPLOY AI/ML TECHNOLOGY AT THE EDGE​

Laguna Hills, Calif. – April 5, 2022 – BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN, OTCQX: BRCHF, ADR: BCHPY), the world’s first commercial producer of ultra-low power neuromorphic AI chips and IP, and SiFive, Inc., the founder and leader of RISC-V computing, have combined their respective technologies to offer chip designers optimized AI/ML compute at the edge.

Today I received a Twitter link from SiV with a somewhat more nuanced version:

https://www.eetimes.com/sifive-and-brainchip-partner-to-demo-ip-compatibility/
DESIGNLINES AI & BIG DATA DESIGNLINE

SiFive and BrainChip Partner to Demo IP Compatibility​

By Sally Ward-Foxton 04.20.2022

SiFive and BrainChip have partnered to show their IP is compatible in SoC designs for embedded artificial intelligence (AI). The companies have demonstrated BrainChip’s neuromorphic processing unit (NPU) IP working alongside SiFive’s RISC–V host processor IP.

So this is another EAP which has borne fruit. It is actually working ... at least in software. They have interfaced Akida IP with their RISC-V IP. and it's working.

As a follow-up, I had a quick look at SiV's web site.

SiV license their RISC-V IP:

https://www.sifive.com/technology/risc-v

Here’s how it works​

01. Design
Configure a SiFive Core to meet the precise needs of your product.

02. Evaluate
Simulate with fully-functional, synthesizable Verilog RTL. Run your application code on an FPGA. Work with our application team for guidance.

03. License
Licensing is straightforward, and access to your unrestricted RISC-V core IP is available quickly.



And then they have are some interesting friends:

https://www.sifive.com/partners


View attachment 4838



View attachment 4837



... and a use case:

https://www.sifive.com/technology/scalable-microarchitectures

Huami designed the world’s first AI-powered wearable processor – Huangshan No. 1 with integrated biometric signal processing. SiFive’s Core IP E31 enabled Huami to reduce power consumption making it more than 38 percent efficient than Arm Cortex-M4.

• Huangshan No. 1 (MHS001) from Huami
• An integrated biometric signal processor using 4 dedicated AL engines and a built-in CNN based interface engine
• 38 percent more efficient than the Arm Cortex-M4
• Powered by SiFive E3

“The world’s first artificial intelligence-powered wearable chipset”

The RISC-V processors are 64-bit CPUs running CNN interface engine, so Akida can do a lot of the heavy lifting (eg, image recognition/classification) and greatly improve power consumption and speed.

Given that SiV lay claim to being the leading RISC-V fabless manufacturers, this could escalate quickly.

Wow we are going to need a bigger park for you to kick the ball around in as I am sick of climbing the fence. Great research as usual. Many thanks. FF

 

[White Horse]

Jones described work done so far as the “tip of the iceberg,” adding that the two companies have so far demonstrated compatibility of BrainChip’s IP with SiFive’s RISC–V architecture. The companies will work together on an ongoing basis to further integrate software and hardware IP.

I love it when the company we're working with steals our catch phrase.
Tends to give you a warm fuzzy feeling.

 

[Deleted member 118]

Interesting read and now they have Akida

SiFive's new chip could lead to revamped phone brains in 2023

The Performance P650, a RISC-V processor family member, is 50% faster than its predecessor but slower than top-end chips in Samsung and Apple smartphones.

www.cnet.com

 

[Deleted member 118]

SiFive Shifting Production Focus To Next-Gen HiFive Development Board - Phoronix

www.phoronix.com

It will certainly be interesting to see what SiFive can deliver in 2022 for new developer boards... A faster SoC would certainly be nice. Some are also interested in socketed RAM support. Meanwhile there is growing interest and solutions around lower-cost developer boards, so we'll see if SiFive is pursing any new entrants there.

 

[Diogenese]

Interesting read and now they have Akida

SiFive's new chip could lead to revamped phone brains in 2023

The Performance P650, a RISC-V processor family member, is 50% faster than its predecessor but slower than top-end chips in Samsung and Apple smartphones.

www.cnet.com

The Good, the Bad, and the Possible ...
(but not necessarily in that order)

https://www.cnet.com/google-amp/new...hip-challenges-decades-old-computing-designs/

Stephen Shankland Dec. 2, 2021 1:41 p.m. PT
http://www.twitter.com/stshank
With performance comparable to Arm's 2-year-old midrange Cortex A77 design, the P650 won't be ejecting Qualcomm or other Arm designs out of smartphones anytime soon. Customers can start evaluating the design in the first quarter of 2022, SiFive said.



https://www.sifive.com/blog/risc-v-is-ready-for-great-challenges

Chris Jones, Vice President, Products—February 07, 2022

RISC-V is Ready for Great Challenges​

SiFive joins the Intel Foundry Services IP Alliance program to broadly enable innovative new computing platforms
In 2021, SiFive evolved our industry-leading RISC-V portfolio of processor IP into three families, each with a focused purpose. The SiFive Essential™, SiFive Performance™, and SiFive Intelligence™ families leverage the expertise of our company founders who created RISC-V and our talented engineers to build products that will address the entire semiconductor industry, from embedded applications to performance-driven uses and applications powered by AI/ML. The SiFive portfolio of RISC-V processors enables choice in the pureplay IP market to enable computing platforms optimized for the market application.
As part of the mission to expand RISC-V to every market and application, SiFive works with leading semiconductor foundries to enable their customers to quickly adopt SiFive technology and optimize their designs. We’re excited to announce that SiFive is partnering with Intel Foundry Services (IFS) Accelerator – IP Alliance program, to optimize SiFive IP for IFS customers and deliver maximum performance and value from both technologies.
SiFive previously announced a collaboration with Intel using the SiFive Performance P550 processor to build a RISC-V development platform, codenamed “Horse Creek,” combining Intel’s leading-edge interface IP such as a PCIe® and DDR with SiFive high-performance CPU IP. We’re excited to extend our relationship with IFS to ensure the full SiFive RISC-V processor portfolio is available to IFS customers, including the recently announced SiFive Performance P650 processor. As the world’s fastest commercially available RISC-V processor IP, the SiFive Performance P650 extends RISC-V into new markets including automotive, AI/ML, client computing, data center, and mobile, among others. To stay informed on updates on the “Horse Creek” RISC-V developer board, please register here.


So in late 2021 SiV's flagship P650 was only as good as a 2 year old mid-range ARM.

Then in February 2022, SiV joins Intel's RISC-V cabal.

and then ... and then ...

he lit the fuse to the dynamite ...

and then ... and then ...

.. eh, eh ...

along came Akida

in April 2022.

So can Akida improve the performance of P650 to surpass the latest ARM (RISC-IV) processor,

and then ... and then ...

will this give Akida a toe in the door with Intel?

 

[Deleted member 118]

BrainChip, SiFive put heads together, work on deploying next-gen edge AI chips | Edge Industry Review

BrainChip Holdings and SiFive have combined their respective technologies to offer chip designers optimized AI/ML compute at the edge.

www.edgeir.com

 

[Deleted member 118]

https://download.intel.com/newsroom/2022/manufacturing/Intel-RISC-V-Fact-Sheet.pdf

 

[Deleted member 118]

AMD may be looking towards RISC-V in future CPUs

What differentiates RISC-V from typical mainstream desktop processors, why would AMD consider integrating RISC-V into their future designs, and could RISC-V become a major contender in the desktop computing industry?

www.electropages.com