Ultra-efficient ARM Cortex-A32 processor targets next-generation embedded products

ARM has announced the latest addition to its family of ultra-efficient ARM application processors, the ARM Cortex-A32 processor, targeting next-generation embedded products. The Cortex-A32 processor brings the benefits of the ARMv8-A architecture into power-constrained, 32-bit embedded applications. The Cortex-A32 is the smallest and most power-efficient core in the range, says the company. “ARM offers an unrivalled portfolio of processors that power billions of extremely efficient embedded devices,” said James McNiven, general manager, CPU group. “The Cortex-A32 processor, enabled with secure ARM TrustZone technology, builds on the trail blazed by the Cortex-A5 and Cortex-A7 processors in embedded applications such as single-board computing, IoT edge nodes and wearables. It brings greater performance, efficiency and other benefits of the ARMv8-A architecture for ARM’s silicon partners to innovate on for richer, more secure embedded systems.” The Cortex-A5 and Cortex-A7 processors, which are based on the ARMv7-A architecture, are among the most widely adopted application processors, powering a huge variety of embedded applications. The Cortex-A32, a 32-bit processor built on the ARMv8-A architecture, is 25 percent more efficient than the current leading ARM embedded 32-bit core, the Cortex-A7, and delivers higher performance while using less power. In its smallest configuration, the Cortex-A32 occupies less than 0.25mm2 of silicon area while consuming less than 4mW of total power at 100MHz in a 28nm process node. The Cortex-A32 can be configured in multiple ways from single- to quad-core. This makes it scalable enough to serve the smallest and most efficient compute devices through to Internet of Things (IoT) gateways and industrial compute applications. Maarten Ectors, vice president, IoT, Canonical, said: “IoT nodes have become increasingly diverse, with the more sophisticated nodes often requiring a rich OS. Combining Snappy Ubuntu Core and the highly-efficient processing and scalability of Cortex-A32 will enable developers to truly push the boundaries of edge devices for IoT.”