Microchip’s Low-Cost PolarFire® SoC Discovery Kit Makes RISC-V® and FPGA Design More Accessible for a Wider Range of Embedded Engineers
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- Limited options for commercially available silicon or hardware may hinder market adoption.
The introduction of Microchip Technology's PolarFire® SoC Discovery Kit is a strategic move to capitalize on the growing demand for RISC-V®-based processors within the embedded industry. The decision to provide a cost-effective, feature-rich development platform can potentially disrupt the market by lowering the barriers to entry for both students and professional engineers. This initiative may lead to an increased adoption rate of Microchip's products, potentially expanding their market share and fostering a community of developers around their technology.
From a market perspective, the focus on educational institutions enhances the brand's penetration in the academic sector, which could result in long-term customer loyalty as students transition into the professional world. Moreover, the affordability of the kit aligns with the current economic demand for cost-effective solutions, which could drive sales volume, especially in price-sensitive markets. The expansion of the Microchip Academic Program through this pilot project may also contribute to a positive brand image, which can indirectly influence investor sentiment and stock valuation.
Microchip's PolarFire SoC Discovery Kit represents a significant technological advancement in the field of embedded systems. The kit's support for Linux® and real-time applications, coupled with its low-power, high-performance FPGA logic elements, positions it as a versatile tool for a wide range of applications. The RISC-V application-class processor offers a customizable and open-source alternative to traditional proprietary architectures, which can accelerate innovation in sectors like IoT, automotive and industrial control.
The kit's inclusion of a quad-core, 64-bit CPU cluster and support for asymmetric multi-processing (AMP) mode, suggests a performance level that meets the needs of complex computational tasks. The ability to configure the large L2 memory subsystem for performance or deterministic operation is a technical advantage that could attract a niche segment of developers focusing on high-performance computing applications. The integration of the Mi-V ecosystem and compatibility with popular expansion boards like Raspberry Pi® indicates a strategic move to ensure interoperability and ease of use, which are critical factors in user adoption.
The collaboration between Microchip Technology and academic institutions through the PolarFire SoC Discovery Kit is a forward-thinking approach to education in engineering. By providing hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, Microchip is directly contributing to the enhancement of the educational process. This experiential learning opportunity allows students to develop practical skills that are highly relevant to the current job market, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and industry practice.
The reduced pricing for universities through the Microchip Academic Program is a commendable effort to democratize access to advanced technology. It ensures that educational institutions, regardless of their financial resources, can equip their students with the tools necessary to innovate and excel in their future careers. This approach may also create a pipeline of skilled engineers familiar with Microchip's technology, which could be beneficial for the industry as a whole. The mentorship component mentioned by Professor Steven Osburn adds another layer of value by providing guidance and industry insights, which can significantly enhance the student learning experience and outcomes.
Cost-sensitive development platform helps student, beginner and seasoned designers work with emerging technologies
CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The embedded industry is seeing an increased demand for open-source RISC-V®-based processor architectures, but there are still limited options when it comes to commercially available silicon or hardware. To fill this gap and help empower innovation, Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) has launched the PolarFire® SoC Discovery Kit. By offering a user-friendly, feature-rich development kit for embedded processing and compute acceleration, Microchip is making emerging technology more accessible to engineers at all levels. The open-source development kit features a quad-core, RISC-V application-class processor that supports Linux® and real-time applications, a rich set of peripherals and 95K of low-power, high-performance FPGA logic elements. This full-featured, yet low-cost kit allows rapid testing of application concepts, developing firmware applications, programming and debugging user code.
“We are dedicated to helping support the growth of embedded systems that require low-power, high-performance FPGA fabrics. The PolarFire SoC Discovery Kit is a pivotal step in our journey towards creating more accessible, smart, secure and high-performing computing solutions for a wide range of applications,” said Shakeel Peera, vice president of marketing for Microchip’s FPGA business unit. “With the new Discovery Kit, experienced and new design engineers, as well as university students, will have access to a low-cost RISC-V and FPGA development platform for learning and rapid innovation.”
In addition to traditional sales channels, PolarFire SoC Discovery Kits are being made available through a pilot project as part of the Microchip Academic Program in the second half of 2024. By offering the Discovery Kit at a reduced price to universities, Microchip is ensuring that the future generation of engineers have direct access to state-of-the-art technology. This approach not only enhances the practical learning experience for students but also aligns academic studies with the latest industry trends. Microchip’s academic program offers resources for educators, researchers, and students worldwide and helps universities incorporate advanced technology into their curriculum.
“Preparing students for the work world, a capstone project is a unique opportunity for students to develop practical applications. Several ASU students are using the PolarFire SoC Discovery Kit in their projects this year and it’s been an invaluable experience for them to have access not only to development boards, but also the amazing mentorship provided through Microchip’s academic program,” said Steven Osburn, professor at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. “The students are getting hands-on experience working with new technology to complete real world engineering projects, finding innovative solutions to real-world problems.”
The Discovery Kit is built around the PolarFire MPFS095T SoC FPGA that features an embedded microprocessor subsystem consisting of a quad-core, 64-bit CPU cluster based on the RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture (ISA). A large L2 memory subsystem can be configured for performance or deterministic operation and supports an asymmetric multi-processing (AMP) mode. The board includes support for Microchip’s Mi-V ecosystem, a MikroBUS™ expansion header for Click Boards™ and a 40-pin Raspberry Pi® connector, as well as a MIPI video connector. The expansion boards can be controlled using protocols like I2C and SPI. An embedded FP5 programmer is included for FPGA fabric programming and debugging, and firmware applications development. Visit the PolarFire SoC FPGA webpage for additional details.
Pricing and Availability
The PolarFire SoC Discovery Kit is available starting at
Resources
High-res images available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to publish):
- Application image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/microchiptechnology/53511685058/sizes/l/
- Product image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/microchiptechnology/53511816247/sizes/l/
- Product Video: https://youtu.be/GmitNBnw22I?si=vqyOY15NxLPZ3Vdv
About Microchip Technology:
Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs which reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market. The company’s solutions serve approximately 125,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.
Note: The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo and PolarFire are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.
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