BRN Discussion Ongoing

[Makeme 2020]

Renesas to Demonstrate First AI Implementations on the Arm Cortex-M85 Processor Featuring Helium Technology at Embedded World​

Microcontroller Leader to Showcase Superior Performance of New Processor in Demanding AI Use Cases at Embedded World 2023 Exhibition and Conference

(Photo: Business Wire)
March 09, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced that it will present the first live demonstrations of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) implementations on an MCU based on the Arm® Cortex®-M85 processor. The demos will show the performance uplift in AI/ML applications made possible by the new Cortex-M85 core and Arm’s Helium technology. They will take place in the Renesas stand - Hall 1, Stand 234 (1-234) at the embedded world 2023 Exhibition and Conference in Nuremburg, Germany from March 14-16.

“We’re excited to take part in this ground-breaking demonstration”
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At embedded world in 2022, Renesas became the first company to demonstrate working silicon based on the Arm Cortex-M85 processor. This year, Renesas is extending its leadership by showcasing the features of the new processor in demanding AI use cases. The first demonstration showcases a people detection application developed in collaboration with Plumerai, a leader in Vision AI, that identifies and tracks persons in the camera frame in varying lighting and environmental conditions. The compact and efficient TinyML models used in this application lead to low-cost and lower power AI solutions for a wide range of IoT implementations. The second demo showcases a motor control predictive maintenance use case with an AI-based unbalanced load detection application using Tensorflow Lite for Microcontrollers with CMSIS-NN.
Delivering over 6 CoreMark/MHz, Cortex-M85 enables demanding IoT use cases that require the highest compute performance and DSP or ML capability, realized on a single, simple-to-program Cortex-M processor. The Arm Cortex-M85 processor features Helium technology, Arm’s M-Profile Vector Extension, available as part of the Armv8.1M architecture. It delivers a significant performance uplift for machine learning (ML) and digital signal processing (DSP) applications, accelerating compute-intensive applications such as endpoint AI. Both demos will showcase the performance uplift made possible by the application of this technology in AI use cases. Cortex-M hallmarks such as deterministic operation, short interrupt response time, and state-of-the-art low-power support are uncompromised on Cortex-M85.
“We’re proud to again lead the industry in implementing the powerful new Arm Cortex-M85 processor with Helium technology,” said Roger Wendelken, Senior Vice President in Renesas’ IoT and Infrastructure Business Unit. “By showcasing the performance of AI on the new processor, we are highlighting technical advantages of the new platform and at the same time demonstrating Renesas’ strengths in providing solutions for emerging applications with our innovative ecosystem partners.”
“We’re excited to take part in this ground-breaking demonstration,” said Roeland Nusselder, CEO of Plumerai. “Arm’s Helium technology supported on the new RA MCUs with the Cortex-M85 core significantly accelerates the Plumerai inference engine. This performance uplift will enable our customers to use larger and more accurate versions of Plumerai's People Detection AI, add additional product features, and extend battery life. Our customers have an insatiable appetite for adding new and more accurate AI features that run on a microcontroller. Together with Renesas, we are the first to fulfill this demand.”
Renesas will implement the new Arm processor within its RA (Renesas Advanced) Family of MCUs. Renesas has quickly become a leader in the Arm MCU market, offering a feature rich family of over 250 different MCUs. Renesas has developed a robust ecosystem of partners providing customers with comprehensive solutions for IoT, AI/ML, industrial automation, medical, building automation, home appliance and multiple other applications.
The new Cortex-M85 core supports Arm TrustZone® technology for protection of secure assets. Combined with TrustZone, Renesas’ integrated cryptographic engine, immutable storage, key management, and tamper protection against DPA/SPA side-channel attacks will provide a comprehensive and fully integrated secure element functionality. The Armv8-M architecture also brings Pointer Authentication/Branch Target Identification (PAC/BTI) security extension, a new architectural feature that provides enhanced mitigation from software attack threats and helps achieve PSA Certified Level 2 certification.
The new RA MCUs based on the Cortex-M85 core will be supported by Renesas’ Flexible Software Package (FSP). The FSP enables faster application development by providing all the infrastructure software needed, including multiple RTOS, BSP, peripheral drivers, middleware, connectivity, networking, and security stacks as well as reference software to build complex AI, motor control and graphics solutions. It allows customers to integrate their own legacy code and choice of RTOS with FSP, thus providing full flexibility in application development. Using the FSP will ease migration of existing designs to the new RA devices.
Winning Combinations
Renesas will combine the new RA MCUs with numerous compatible devices from its portfolio to offer a wide array of Winning Combinations. These Winning Combinations are technically vetted system architectures from mutually compatible devices that work together seamlessly to bring an optimized, low-risk design for faster time to market. Renesas offers more than 300 Winning Combinations with a wide range of products from the Renesas portfolio to enable customers to speed up the design process and bring their products to market more quickly. They can be found at renesas.com/win.
Renesas MCU Leadership
A world leader in MCUs, Renesas ships more than 3.5 billion units per year, with approximately 50% of shipments serving the automotive industry, and the remainder supporting industrial and Internet of Things applications as well as data center and communications infrastructure. Renesas has the broadest portfolio of 8-, 16- and 32-bit devices, and is the industry’s No. 1 supplier of both 16- and 32-bit MCUs, delivering unmatched quality and efficiency with exceptional performance. As a trusted supplier, Renesas has decades of experience designing smart, secure MCUs, backed by a dual-source production model, the industry’s most advanced MCU process technology and a vast network of more than 200 ecosystem partners. For more information about Renesas MCUs, visit www.renesas.com/MCUs.
More Information
The demonstrations will take place in the Renesas booth - Hall 1, Stand 234 (1-234) at embedded world. More information is available at renesas.com/ra and https://plumerai.com/partners/peopledet-renesas.
About Renesas Electronics Corporation
Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) empowers a safer, smarter and more sustainable future where technology helps make our lives easier. A leading global provider of microcontrollers, Renesas combines our expertise in embedded processing, analog, power and connectivity to deliver complete semiconductor solutions. These Winning Combinations accelerate time to market for automotive, industrial, infrastructure and IoT applications, enabling billions of connected, intelligent devices that enhance the way people work and live. Learn more at renesas.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
(Remarks). All names of products or services mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

 

[Deleted member 118]

Very excellent podcast and a must listen too.
Megachips and their launch in the USA.

Podcast EP84: MegaChips and Their Launch in the US with Doug Fairbairn - Semiwiki

Dan is joined by semiconductor and EDA industry veteran Douglas Fairbairn. Doug provides details about MegaChips, where he currently heads business development. MegaChips is a large, successful 30-year old semiconductor company based in Japan. Doug is helping MegaChips launch in the US with a...

semiwiki.com

 

[manny100]

Some companies caught up in SVB collapse include Roku, Roblox, Quotient, Sunnova, Sunrun & numerous US, Canadian, UK, German, Israeli, Chinese, Danish, Indian & Swedish startups.

“The loss of deposits has the potential to cripple the sector and set the ecosystem back 20 years,” they said in the letter seen by Bloomberg. “Many businesses will be sent into involuntary liquidation overnight.”

The UK is just the beginning. SVB had branches in Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, India, Israel and Sweden, too. Founders are warning that the bank’s failure could wipe out startups around the world without government intervention.

silicon valley bank: Silicon Valley Bank fallout spreads around the world as UK firms plead for help - The Economic Times

Silicon Valley Bank ’s UK unit is set to be declared insolvent, has already ceased trading and is no longer taking new customers. Startup founders are panicking about accessing money and paying employees.

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Only banking related items I have identified for BRN is in last 4C.

BrainChip SAS has a secured overdraft facility with Credit Agricole, France, to the value of 20,000 Euros which incurs interest at 8.39%.

BrainChip Inc has an Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit to the value of US$665,000 with First Republic Bank as security for the office lease. The Letter of Credit expires 31 May 2027 and incurs interest at 0.9%.

The Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit as security for office lease is via the First Republic Bank so hopefully BRN hold their cash with them as well.

First Republic Bank says 'liquidity position remains very strong'​

Stock Markets Mar 11, 2023 05:54

By Sam Boughedda

First Republic Bank (NYSE:FRC) shares plummeted more than 30% in Friday trading as the market reaction to the news surrounding SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ:SIVB) grows, but FRC said in a filing that its "liquidity position remains very strong."

SVB's meltdown began Thursday after it revealed it had to sell billions of dollars worth of securities at a loss and was seeking to raise $2.25 billion in equity to shore up its balance sheet.

Banking stocks plunged ahead of the weekend as investors fled the sector, with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation stating that SVB has been shut down by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

First Republic Bank, which at the time of writing is down 22% at $74.50, was just one of several bank stocks impacted, but it tumbled a significant amount due to fears about its position.

However, the bank said Friday that its "deposit base is strong and very-well diversified."

"First Republic's liquidity position remains very strong. Sources beyond a well-diversified deposit base include over $60 billion of available, unused borrowing capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank," the company stated in the filing.

"First Republic's very high-quality investment portfolio is stable and represents a modest percentage of total bank assets," they added. "The investment portfolio is less than 15% of total bank assets. Of this, less than 2% of total bank assets is categorized as available for sale."

The bank concluded by saying it has "consistently maintained a strong capital position" and has a "long-standing track record of exceptional credit quality."

Fingers crossed we are not impacted financially by the SVB collapse.
If we are not impacted then we will see our start up competition seriously reduced.
This ironically should give us a boost.

 

[manny100]

There should be an ann clarifying whether or not we are impacted at market open on Tuesday.

 

[Fact Finder]

I see Louis Di Nardo still holds 0.34% of BRN. Obviously still has a lot of faith in the business.
He would know where it is heading.

Hi @manny100

Yes Mr. Dinardo still holds in his own name but he originally had 11 million. He also had tens of millions of options. He clearly sold some part of those options when they vested to satisfy his immediate tax liability in the USA a subject covered before.

At the time of this sale he was under contract to Brainchip still as a consultant and bound by the companies rules for employee trading as well as the general rules relating to insider trading which also extend beyond employment.

The thing about the converted options was they never appeared in his name so I personally suspected that he, like Anil Mankar who he knew very well and who was partly behind him coming to Brainchip in the beginning, used a nominee account.

The use of nominee accounts is as you know a common occurrence particularly in the USA so it is very difficult to say whether Mr. Dinardo or anyone with less than a five percent holding has actually sold down or simply as part of a financial plan transferred all or part of their holding into a nominee account.

The sudden appearance of Citi Nominees as a major top 20 holder indicates that some large shareholdings were aggregated.

Perhaps Mr. Dinardo uses Citi Nominees or not. We just do not know.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

 

[Fact Finder]

I just emailed Jason at UCSC asking him about the specific SNN chip his research entailed, together with a few links to Brainchip. If he responds I will let you know. I did let him know I am a shareholder.

When the paper was published I found it and passed it on to Tony Dawe suggesting it might be something to follow up and I received an email back from Tony Dawe advising he had passed it on to Sales and Marketing.
My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

 

[Getupthere]

What’s in the Boot?

 

[BaconLover]

As of 27/01/2023, I can see Citicorp nominees having 1 account at the top, above PVDM.

We used to have Robert Mitro, and his family with approximately 140 million shares up until 2 years ago, and when that disappeared, Citicorp appeared at the top.

My assumption was that then Mitro family created that nominee account to park all their shares in one place.
Hence I believe LDN did sell some, from what I can see on paper looking at the numbers with no assumptions involved.
May be he has created another nominee account, but we don't know if he has or not.

Does not really matter either way, even our Founders have sold shares for a variety of reasons, so LDN is quite within his rights to do whatever he did.

My opinion only, dyor.

 

[Deleted member 118]

Interesting job opening and company

https://www.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=d5abd0bafbc17d7e&from=serp

About Sandia

National security is our business. We apply science to help detect, repel, defeat, or mitigate threats. For more than 70 years, Sandia has delivered essential science and technology to resolve the nation's most challenging security issues. Sandia National Laboratories is operated and managed by N...

www.sandia.gov

 

[Earlyrelease]

What’s is the Boot?

 

[Fact Finder]

View attachment 31917

As of 27/01/2023, I can see Citicorp nominees having 1 account at the top, above PVDM.

We used to have Robert Mitro, and his family with approximately 140 million shares up until 2 years ago, and when that disappeared, Citicorp appeared at the top.
View attachment 31918


My assumption was that then Mitro family created that nominee account to park all their shares in one place.
Hence I believe LDN did sell some, from what I can see on paper looking at the numbers with no assumptions involved.
May be he has created another nominee account, but we don't know if he has or not.

Does not really matter either way, even our Founders have sold shares for a variety of reasons, so LDN is quite within his rights to do whatever he did.

My opinion only, dyor.

The Robert Mitro family moved their shares into the HSBC Nominee Accounts. This was confirmed by a HC poster named Dolci via her broker and by a direct enquiry of Brainchip as well as by a number of other holders at the time.

I also made a direct enquiry of Brainchip when Citicorp Nominees first appeared and was informed the best information they had was that it was a number of different individual accounts.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

 

[Fact Finder]

Interesting job opening and company

https://www.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=d5abd0bafbc17d7e&from=serp

About Sandia

National security is our business. We apply science to help detect, repel, defeat, or mitigate threats. For more than 70 years, Sandia has delivered essential science and technology to resolve the nation's most challenging security issues. Sandia National Laboratories is operated and managed by N...

www.sandia.gov

Sandia have been working with Intel Loihi 1 & 2 for many years. There has been no information to suggest they have embraced Brainchip or AKIDA. The last paper published here related to Sandia proving that Loihi could actually do maths more efficiently than traditional von Neumann computing. Sandia is an Intel Research partner.

There was much discussion around this paper and the fact that Peter van der Made at the 2019 AGM stated that AKIDA technology was capable of doing maths.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

 

[thelittleshort]

Sandia have been working with Intel Loihi 1 & 2 for many years. There has been no information to suggest they have embraced Brainchip or AKIDA. The last paper published here related to Sandia proving that Loihi could actually do maths more efficiently than traditional von Neumann computing. Sandia is an Intel Research partner.

Unrelated fact

Kristofor Carlson was at Sandia prior to joining BrainChip

 

[Fact Finder]

Unrelated fact

Kristofor Carlson was at Sandia prior to joining BrainChip

View attachment 31922
View attachment 31921

Yes and because of this there was a lot of searching and discussion on HC when Sandia first started publishing about neuromorphic because of this and the NASA connection. They were deeply imbedded in Intel and Loihi so were getting a lot of butter put on their bread through that relationship. The fact that Intel is now partnered with Brainchip and both proudly display each other on their websites might open the Sandia door enough for Peter van der Made to slip in. Fingers crossed. A positive statement from Sandia about AKIDA science fiction would carry great weight in the semiconductor space.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

 

[MaxwellAnne]

I'll just leave my latest research here .

Best research ever haha

 

[Diogenese]

Sandia have been working with Intel Loihi 1 & 2 for many years. There has been no information to suggest they have embraced Brainchip or AKIDA. The last paper published here related to Sandia proving that Loihi could actually do maths more efficiently than traditional von Neumann computing. Sandia is an Intel Research partner.

There was much discussion around this paper and the fact that Peter van der Made at the 2019 AGM stated that AKIDA technology was capable of doing maths.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

Until Peter said that Akida could do maths, I did not believe that it could, and I still do not understand how it can.

Many years ago, philosophers and computer scientists used to talk about fuzzy logic. At the time, I did not follow the discussion:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuzzy_logic

von Neumann digital computers do not use fuzzy logic - it's a one or it's a zero.

Akida does something like "It's more likely to be one than zero", but not on an individual bit basis, rather on the basis of a batch of bits representing spikes, something I would classify as a form of fuzzy logic. Keep in mind that I am not familiar with what constitutes fuzzy logic.

I would think that things like N-of-M coding (rank coding) would be incompatible with mathematical logic.

There is much I do not understand about Akida.

 

[thelittleshort]

Our man in Japan!

 

[Fact Finder]

Until Peter said that Akida could do maths, I did not believe that it could, and I still do not understand how it can.

Many years ago, philosophers and computer scientists used to talk about fuzzy logic. At the time, I did not follow the discussion:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuzzy_logic

von Neumann digital computers do not use fuzzy logic - it's a one or it's a zero.

Akida does something like "It's more likely to be one than zero", but not on an individual bit basis, rather on the basis of a batch of bits representing spikes, something I would classify as a form of fuzzy logic. Keep in mind that I am not familiar with what constitutes fuzzy logic.

I would think that things like N-of-M coding (rank coding) would be incompatible with mathematical logic.

There is much I do not understand about Akida.

Maybe that which is secret cannot be known or its something like the kangaroo jigsaw I was trying to do with my little grandson.

It was just impossible until laughing his little head off he pulled from his pocket the critical piece of the puzzle.

Then it all fell in to place whereupon he swept it off the coffee table back into chaos.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

 

[Fact Finder]

Our man in Japan!

View attachment 31935

View attachment 31939

View attachment 31937
View attachment 31938

There is that ARM connection again.

What a great day it was when Rob Telson agreed to join Brainchip.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

 

[jtardif999]

Wonder how this one is going?
https://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/2330687

SC

I used to work with EW and have always thought that training Akida to recognise the different emitters (which are basically signals emitted to be repelled back of the different surfaces of particular military hardware to categorise that hardware by the signal returned) would be a bread and butter use case for Akida - which we know is particularly good at understanding RF and then also be able to learn new emitters it hasn’t been trained for in the field. This would change the way military reconnaissance is being performed and make the process a whole lot easier to keep up to date.