The "Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Platform" is specially developed for robot control. It builds on the "Qualcomm Robotics RB3 Platform" and its application in many robotics products and drones and includes extensive hardware, software and development tools. According to Qualcomm, it is the first of its kind to combine a company's expertise in 5G and AI to enable developers and manufacturers to create the next generation of robots and drones with high computing power and low power consumption for the consumer, enterprise, industrial, military and professional services sectors. The associated "Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Development Kit" is designed to give developers the flexibility they need to turn their ideas into commercial reality.

The Qualcomm QRB5165 processor integrated in the Robotics RB5 Platform is specifically designed for robotics applications and has a heterogeneous computing architecture combined with the fifth-generation Qualcomm AI Engine, which achieves an AI performance of 15 Tera Operations Per Second (TOPS) for the execution of complex AI and deep learning workflows. The processor also offers machine learning capabilities powered by the new Qualcomm Hexagon Tensor Accelerator (HTA), an Image Signal Processor (ISP) with support for seven cameras simultaneously and a dedicated computer vision engine for Enhanced Video Analytics (EVA). With support for 4G and 5G connectivity via an add-on module, the Robotics RB5 Platform is designed to help pave the way for the adoption of 5G in robotics and intelligent systems.

With the Robotics RB5 Platform and the QRB5165 processor, Qualcomm enables multiple design types, including off-the-shelf SoM solutions and flexible chip-on-board designs. The solution is available in multiple options, including commercial and industrial temperature ranges and an extended lifecycle option through 2029.

"With the Robotics RB5 Platform, Qualcomm is helping to accelerate growth in a variety of robotic segments such as autonomous mobile robots (AMR), delivery, inspection, inventory, collaborative robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as enabling robotics applications in Industry 4.0," said Ottmar Flach, CEO of Atlantik Elektronik. The Robotics RB5 Platform is already available for pre-order from the company based in Planegg near Munich.

To enable the next generation of robotics solutions and designs, Qualcomm has entered into a strategic collaboration with TDK to further enhance the capabilities of the Robotics RB5 Platform. TDK has added its current sensor technologies for robotic applications as part of the Robotics RB5 Platform and has been instrumental in providing sensor solutions and motor control hardware.

Important features of the Robotics RB5 Platform

Heterogeneous computing capacities: For high computing performance, the QRB5165 processor integrates the octa-core Qualcomm Kryo 585 CPU, Qualcomm Adreno 650 GPU, and multiple DSPs and ISPs. It also includes a dedicated AI engine, the Hexagon Tensor Accelerator and a dedicated computer vision hardware block (Enhanced Video Analytics Engine).

Qualcomm 5th generation AI engine: The dedicated Hexagon Tensor Accelerator is based on the Qualcomm 5th generation AI engine and delivers an AI performance of 15 TOPS with high AI and ML interference.

Advanced imaging capability: The Qualcomm Spectra 480 ISP captures fast, professional-quality photos and videos and processes 2 gigapixels per second. Its gigapixel speed supports camera features such as Dolby Vision video capture, 8K video recording (at 30 frames/s) and 200-megapixel photos; it simultaneously captures 4K HDR video (at 120 frames/s) and 64-megapixel photos without shutter lag. The hardware accelerator uses the Enhanced Video Analytics (EVA) engine to handle all computer vision tasks. Other ISP features include HEIF photo capture, slow motion video capture and advanced video capture formats (including Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HEVC and HLG). Seven simultaneously operating cameras enable simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), object detection and classification, autonomous navigation and path planning to perform tasks efficiently and safely in complex indoor and outdoor environments.

Security support: The Qualcomm Secure Processing Unit is designed to provide security without compromising performance. It includes Secure Boot, cryptographic accelerators, Qualcomm Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) and camera security and is FIPS 140-2 certified. Additional security features include key provisioning security, malware protection, Qualcomm Content Protection, Qualcomm Mobile Security, Qualcomm Processor Security and secure tokens to support remote control and secure device provisioning. For advanced AI and ML security, the platform supports biometric authentication (including fingerprint, iris, voice and face).

Connectivity: The Robotics RB5 Platform supports Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) over long distances, Bluetooth 5.1 as well as 4G and 5G, providing a high level of connectivity.