Qualcomm Technologies has unveiled a new line of industrial-grade processors at Embedded World North America, with a focus on the Internet of Things (IoT). The Qualcomm IQ line of CPUs is designed for demanding industrial situations. The series is intended to satisfy the needs of rigorous operating conditions and safety regulations for a variety of industrial applications.
The Qualcomm IQ series is designed to handle industrial applications with high computational needs, providing on-device AI capability of up to 100 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second). The processors are designed to withstand severe temperatures and are ideal for applications such as robotics, drones and industrial automation. They include integrated safety features like SIL-3 (Safety Integrity Level) compatibility and an embedded safety controller. The series is divided into three subcategories: IQ9, IQ8 and IQ6, each of which addresses a particular industry demand and performance level.
Along with the new hardware, Qualcomm has introduced the Qualcomm IoT Solutions Framework, which is designed to make it easier to construct IoT solutions. This framework integrates Qualcomm chipsets, AI technologies and reference apps to make the process easier for developers and companies. It combines software, hardware and cloud-based services to improve operational efficiency in a variety of IoT areas, such as industrial automation, video surveillance and worker safety systems.
Nakul Duggal, General Manager for Automotive, Industrial and Embedded IoT at Qualcomm, stated that the that the IQ series is focused on integrating AI into connected endpoints, with the aim of supporting enterprises in their IoT initiatives.
Qualcomm has also acquired Sequans' 4G IoT technology, enhancing its ability to provide low-power, reliable cellular connectivity solutions for industrial IoT applications. This technology is intended to ensure that Qualcomm’s IoT solutions meet the connectivity and power efficiency needs of modern industrial systems.