The RISC-V Architecture Secures Smartwatches With Google And Qualcomm

In the present day, Google and Qualcomm introduced an extension of their partnership to deliver RISC-V-based systems-on-chips (SoCs) to market with assist for Put on OS, a model of Android for smartwatches and wearables. This announcement marks a {hardware} first for Qualcomm to deliver an SoC primarily based totally on the RISC-V microprocessor structure to market and the third main software program announcement for the RISC-V structure in just below a 12 months. The earlier bulletins included Google’s announcement for Android assist for RISC-V in November 2022 and the formation of the RISC-V Software program Ecosystem (RISE) in Could. Each Google and Qualcomm are founding members of RISE.

For its half, Google has dedicated to the Android and Put on OS ports and software program improvement instruments. Whereas Qualcomm’s present SoCs are based on the Arm microprocessor structure, Qualcomm makes use of RISC-V primarily based microcontroller cores inside its widespread Snapdragon SoCs which can be utilized in automotive, smartphones, PCs, and a bunch of different IoT functions. Qualcomm is presently the market chief in Put on OS smartwatch SoCs with the Snapdragon Put on platform. The shift from Arm to RISC-V microprocessor cores marks a big change for Qualcomm and an enormous design win for the RISC-V structure. Qualcomm has a big funding within the open-source RISC-V structure and just lately introduced a partnership with NXP, Nordic Semiconductor, Bosch, and Infineon to type a brand new and but to be named firm “aimed toward advancing the adoption of RISC-V.” The brand new firm can be targeted on growing options to be used in automotive, IoT, and cell; three essential markets for Google and Qualcomm.

The announcement supplied no particulars on the dates that the {hardware} or software program options can be out there, however this newest announcement marks one other main step within the improvement of the RISC-V ecosystem. Creating an ecosystem round a brand new microprocessor structure can take a decade or longer, significantly because of the want for the working system (OS) assist, the software program improvement instruments, and the event or porting of functions. Nonetheless, behind expertise heavyweights like Google, Intel, MediaTek, Nvidia, NXP, Qualcomm, Samsung and lots of others, the RISC-V structure appears to be like set to be a serious various to different architectures, particularly Arm, within the subsequent few years. This can be excellent timing for Qualcomm as its lawsuit with Arm over the usage of expertise acquired via the Nuvia acquisition is scheduled to succeed in the court docket room in late 2024.

Whereas the supply of the brand new Qualcomm SoCs or Google Put on OS assist was not introduced, Tirias Analysis estimates that units utilizing the brand new platform might be out there by as early as 2025. And if Qualcomm and Google are collectively working to deliver RISC-V options to market, different Qualcomm platforms and platforms from different semiconductor distributors are prone to shortly comply with.