- AI tech provider BrainChip (BRN) and its Japan-based Socionext parter have given their wafer fabrication partner, TSMC, the completed Akida design files
- Akida is an advanced neural networking processor which brings artificial intelligence to ‘Edge’ technology devices
- ‘Edge’ devices include Internet of Things (IoT) controllers, medical monitors and other devices that are at the edge of the internet or cloud.
- BrainChip and Socionext teamed up last year to develop Akida and combine it with Socionext’s AI platform
- Once complete, the engineering samples will help to validate the Akida Intellectual Property
- This means customers can apply Akida in surveillance systems, live streams, and more to analyse and recognise various imaging
- The samples are expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2020
- BrainChip is up 5 per cent this morning, with shares trading for 4.2 cents each
BrainChip (BRN) and Socionext have given wafer fabrication partner, TSMC, the completed Akida design files.
This means the TSMC MultiProject Wafer (MPW) is scheduled to commence fabrication immediately.
Socionext is BrainChip’s manufacturing, development and commercial partner. It is a Japan-based ‘system of chip’ (SoC) developer who first partnered with BrainChip to develop the Akida chip back in June 2019.
Akida is BrainChip’s neural network processor that is designed to provide a complete ultra-low-power Edge artificial intelligence (AI) network processor for vision, audio and smart transducer applications.
‘Edge’ devices include Internet of Things (IoT) controllers, laptops, mobile phones, smart sensors, medical monitors and other devices that are at the edge of the internet or cloud.
“Since inception, our mission has been to provide highly advanced artificial intelligence intellectual property and devices for commercial use in equipment that is used at the Edge,” Chief Technology Officer Peter van der Made said.
Late last month, BrainChip and Socionext announced officially combining the Akida technology with Socionext’s AI platform.
It was then that the partners also announced that Akida will be offered to customers by Socionext through its AI platform.
Given the accelerated processing time for MPW wafers, engineering samples of the Akida device are expected to be available in the third quarter of 2020.
These samples will help to validate the Akida Intellectual Property (IP) for ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) development, along with BrainChip’s complete machine learning framework, the Akida Development Environment (ADE).
“Peter, Anil, me and the entire BrainChip team are proud of the innovation and effort demonstrated to reach this important milestone,” CEO Louis DiNardo said.
The resulting IP and device can be used in a variety of Edge applications, including detection and recognition of images, objects and faces in videos, human speech and other physical inputs without needing an outside processor or external memory.
BrainChip is up 5 per cent this morning, with shares trading for 4.2 cents each at 10:00 am AEST.