The first MCU with an Arm Cortex-M85 processor finally arrives

More than a year after Arm unveiled Cortex-M85, its fastest core for standalone microcontrollers (MCUs) and MCU-like subsystems, Renesas has become the first supplier to incorporate this superscalar Cortex-M processor in its RA8 MCUs. Renesas calls it the world’s most powerful MCU, delivering 6.39 CoreMark/MHz, a level of performance previously possible with microprocessors (MPUs).

The RA8 Series MCUs also deploy Helium, Arm’s vector extension that provides up to 4x performance boost for digital signal processor (DSP) and machine learning (ML) implementations versus MCUs based on the Arm Cortex-M7 processor. That enables design engineers to eliminate an additional DSP in their systems for certain applications.

The Cortex-M85 processor includes Arm TrustZone, which enables isolation and secure/non-secure partitioning of memory, peripherals, and code. Next, the RA8 Series MCUs incorporate Renesas Security IP (RSIP-E51A), which provides cryptographic accelerators while supporting secure boot. Other security features include immutable storage for a strong hardware root-of-trust, secure authenticated debug, secure factory programming, and tamper protection.

Renesas has already begun shipping the first devices in the series: the RA8M1 Group. These are general-purpose MCUs that address diverse compute-intensive applications in industrial automation, home appliances, smart home, consumer, building/home automation, medical, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Mantra Softech, a supplier of biometric solutions, has employed the MCUs in its fingerprint scanner.

Figure 1 RA8M1 is the first MCU to incorporate an Arm Cortex-M85 processor. Source: Renesas

Arm Cortex-M85 processor and Helium technology set a new bar for MCU performance and enhanced DSP and AI/ML capabilities. For instance, MCUs like RA8 can enable edge and endpoint devices to implement natural language processing in voice AI while using Helium to accelerate neural network processing.

Below is a quick look at Cortex-M85 and the supporting Helium instruction augmentation designed specifically for accelerating AI/ML workloads.

Anatomy of Cortex-M85

Arm Cortex-M85—the highest performing Cortex-M processor—claims a 30% boost in scalar compute over Cortex-M7 to unlock new Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded applications. It’s the first Cortex-M processor to deliver over 6 CoreMarks/MHz performance, and that’s a significant scalar performance uplift.

M85, like M7, is a dual-issue 32-bit design with a longer pipeline than other M-series models. However, it incorporates on-chip memory caches protected with error-correction-code (ECC) support. Moreover, the addition of CoreLink DMA-350 direct-memory-access (DMA) controller facilitates tightly coupled memory (TCM) capability, which is useful in AI/ML and signal-processing applications.

Figure 2 The Cortex-M85 processor delivers over 6 CoreMarks/MHz, a level of compute performance that so far requires an MPU. Source: Arm

Besides scalar performance uplift, M85 also adds Helium vector processing extensions, which are also compatible with Cortex-M55, but they are much faster in this new processor core. In fact, the M85 delivers 20% more AI throughput than the M55.

Then there is compatibility with Arm’s Virtual Hardware platform, designed to give software developers a starting point before they get hold of physical chips. It also provides additional insights into the processor operation that are not available in physical hardware.

More M85 MCUs on way?

Design engineers and embedded system developers have been keenly waiting for Cortex-M85 to arrive in MCUs and see how its number-crunching and vectorization features work. They also seem keen to see how M85 performs in a real-time audio context.

Renesas, the first chipmaker to incorporate M85 in MCUs, is confident that the fastest Cortex-M processor will cater to the growing AI opportunities in the embedded and IoT space without compromising security. And while Renesas has the first-mover advantage, other MCU suppliers are expected to make their M85 announcements soon.

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The post The first MCU with an Arm Cortex-M85 processor finally arrives appeared first on EDN.

The first MCU with an Arm Cortex-M85 processor finally arrives

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