In the last two years it has become more evident that the lines separating machine and human functions are continually evolving. This shift offers exciting and exceptional opportunities to the tech sector.
Artificial intelligence, in particular has reached a turning point. AI has changed our understanding of heterogeneous computer systems and influenced system architectures on a wide spectrum of devices, from small edge devices to large cloud servers.
As a result, the need for hardware that can adapt and change is becoming more and more apparent. AI’s practical application to different workloads is also changing between differentiation and futureproofing. The interplay of these trends is most evident and challenging when it comes to the IoT.
In navigating the landscape of any IoT system, the inherent and daunting challenges within the three crucial functions — sensing, processing, and connectivity — are significant.
There are many factors that have contributed to uneven growth across the end markets. These include fragmentation due to multi-vendor procurement, the differentiation between general-purpose and custom-purpose computing silicon, concerns about software interoperability, and different investment strategies.
The overall market outlook remains very promising despite the trials. According to Gartner ResearchThe IoT semiconductor market is predicted to show a strong 11.8% compound annual growth (CAGR) and reach a revenue of $269.7B by 2027. The market potential of this magnitude is just too great to ignore for most semiconductor firms.
But the changing demands of the markets in an era of AI disruption are important to recognize. The need for best practices, implementation guidelines, and solution blueprints is a proactive step towards establishing an IoT platform that’s future-ready.
Astra is Synaptics’ latest product.
Synaptics is a leader in wireless connectivity, AI, display, audio, video and vision technologies. This positioning allows the company to be a leader in IoT computing.
Synaptics’ success in multiple product categories, including the PC touchpad, smartphone, automotive, wireless connectivity and docking stations, has made it no stranger to these technological challenges.
Synaptics, however, is not the company it used to be in 2010. Satish Ganesan is a good example. He was on my podcast recently, discussing the company’s impressive solutions in the automotive sector, an area in which they were virtually absent in 2010.
Synaptics announced Astra earlier this month. It is an AI-native computing platform that targets both consumer and industrial IoT applications. Synaptics Astra is built on the following foundational pillars:
Portfolio of Power-Efficient, High-Performance AI-Enabled SoCs Synaptics offers a wide range of AI-enabled multi-modal MPUs as well as high-performance AI and connectivity-enabled MCUs for scalable computing solutions in various markets, including home automation, smart appliances and process control, wearables and security, digital signage and streaming, enterprise conferencing, and digital signage.
Framework for adaptive AI: Ambient and Conversational AI is becoming a key component of IoT design and edge computing. As a result, companies are looking for providers who can deliver best-in-class implementations. Synaptics’ open, cross platform tooling, optimization, and modeling infrastructure helps customers and developers transition from “making AI works” to “working WITH AI.”
Synaptics AI can integrate production systems effectively, regardless of whether they are dealing with raw factory data, object detection for home security models, audio enhancements including noise suppression, echo cancelation, or voice-biometrics.
The package is built on standard-based approaches for firmware-OS interfaces and security. It also supports application profiles specific to each market. The familiarity of the development environment allows users to optimize evaluation and decision cycles.
Wireless Connectivity Pairing Synaptics offers a range of highly integrated IoT solutions that provide wireless connectivity and compute matchings in the right size.
These functionalities can be enabled by Linux and RTOS-based software frameworks, such as the Matter Smart Home Interoperability Initiative, which uses standards-based Linux, Bluetooth BLE and 802.15.4.
Broad Partner Ecosystem Synaptics has a multi-generational history of building market-ready solutions and systems in collaboration with leading industry partners, such as ODMs and ISVs.
Synaptics SoCs power a variety of IoT platform types, from single-board computer systems for the enterprise and consumer market, to streamers, tablet computers, interactive A/V-conferencing systems, and interactive displays for education and business, as well as compute-enabled modules.
The Shift from Custom Silicon Solutions
Synaptics, in many respects, is just following an industry-wide trend that’s been going on for years. It was impossible to imagine a few decades ago that a vendor could create custom silicon using the Burger King’s “Have It Your Way,” because it was not economically feasible and there were only a handful of companies with silicon design experience.
Apple, AMD and other companies have flipped this business model.
Synaptics recognizes that the adoption of custom silicon by the tech industry has heralded an era of profound transformation.
The increasing number of companies designing and manufacturing their specialized chips for specific tasks boosts innovation, performance, and energy efficiency. This marks a departure for conventional hardware that is designed to fit all applications. It allows tailored solutions from artificial intelligence and edge computing.
Nebu Philips is the Senior Director for Strategy and Business Development at Synaptics. He shares his thoughts on Astra’s goals.
Custom silicon allows companies to integrate hardware and software seamlessly, which leads to more efficient and seamless operations. It can also improve security by using proprietary encryption and protection methods.
This trend does raise concerns, however, about interoperability. Compatibility and collaboration issues could arise as the industry becomes more fragmented with proprietary solutions. It is crucial to find the balance between customization and cohesion of the industry in order to harness the full power of custom silicon.
Synaptics’ stated commitment to industry standards should allow it to avoid this pothole as it pursues its Astra goals.
Synaptics’ Astra is the new standard for integrating computing with artificial intelligence, connectivity and software. This innovation is a result of the increasing importance that AI has in driving technological advancements. Astra is a powerful tool that can help Astra overcome the perception of being a company that only makes smartphones and touchpads.
Astra proves this viewpoint is false.
