Qualcomm Launches World’s First 5G and AI-Enabled Robotics Platform
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., announced the Qualcomm® Robotics RB5 platform – the Company’s most innovative, built-in, thorough offering built especially for robotics. Developing on the prosperous Qualcomm® Robotics RB3 platform and its wide adoption in a broad array of robotics and drone goods out there these days, the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform is comprised of an comprehensive set of hardware, program and development resources.

Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Development Kit. Impression credit rating: Qualcomm
The Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform is the 1st of its form to convey alongside one another the Company’s deep expertise in 5G and AI to empower developers and manufacturers to make the next technology of higher-compute, reduced-electrical power robots and drones for the purchaser, organization, defense, industrial and professional service sectors – and the thorough Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Development Kit will help make certain developers have the customization and adaptability they need to make their visions a industrial truth. To date, Qualcomm Technologies has engaged several main businesses that have endorsed the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, which includes twenty+ early adopters in the approach of evaluating the platform (see endorsement prices beneath).
Furthermore, thirty+ ecosystem gamers are building required hardware and program to help a variety of robotics programs these contain the adhering to businesses: 96Boards, Acontis, ADLINK, AirMap, AirServe, Airtonomy, AlwaysAI, Augmented Pixels, Autocore, Autoware Foundation, Canonical, DeepEdge.ai, DreamVu, Dronecode, Fractal.ai, GlobalEdge, Innominds Program, InOrbit, Intel RealSense, Lantronix, Linaro, LiteOn, Kudan, ModalAI, Nod, Open up Robotics, Panasonic, PathPartners, Pilot.AI, Shoreline IoT, SLAMCORE, TDK, Thundercomm, and Tier IV.
The platform’s Qualcomm QRB5165 processor, personalized for robotics programs, features a highly effective heterogeneous computing architecture coupled with the main fifth-technology Qualcomm® AI Engine offering fifteen Tera Operations For every 2nd (TOPS) of AI performance for running complicated AI and deep learning workloads. The processor also features incredible device learning (ML) inferencing at the edge beneath restricted electrical power budgets employing the new Qualcomm® Hexagon™ Tensor Accelerator (HTA), a highly effective image sign processor (ISP) with assist for seven concurrent cameras, and a committed pc vision motor for increased online video analytics (EVA). With assist for 4G and 5G connectivity speeds by means of a companion module, the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will help pave the way for the proliferation of 5G in robotics and clever techniques.
With the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform and the Qualcomm QRB5165 processor, the Corporation enables a variety of design and style choices which includes off-the-shelf technique-on-module methods and versatile chip-on-board styles. The solution is out there in various choices, which includes industrial and industrial-quality temperature ranges and an choice for prolonged lifecycle till 2029.
“Qualcomm Technologies is the world’s main wireless technological know-how innovator with a strong foundation in AI, cell computing and connectivity. By applying its deep-rooted cell techniques expertise to the robotics market, Qualcomm Technologies is aiding to help the creation of much more highly effective, safe, and clever robots than ever before,” mentioned Dev Singh, senior director, business development and head of autonomous robotics, drones and clever devices, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “With the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, Qualcomm Technologies will aid speed up expansion in a broad array of robotics segments these types of as autonomous cell robots (AMR), delivery, inspection, inventory, industrial, collaborative robots and unmanned aerial motor vehicles (UAVs), enabling Business four. robotics use scenarios, and laying the foundation for the UAV Website traffic Management (UTM) space.”
To help the next technology of robotics methods and styles, Qualcomm Technologies has entered into a strategic collaboration with TDK to further enrich the abilities of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform. TDK has additional their most up-to-date condition of the artwork sensor systems for increased robotics programs as section of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform and they have been instrumental in providing globe course sensor methods and motor handle hardware.
The Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Development Kit is thorough, customizable and easy-to-use. Developers have versatile program abilities, with the platform offering assist for Linux, Ubuntu and Robot Functioning Method (ROS) 2., as effectively as pre-built-in drivers for a variety of cameras, sensors and 5G connectivity. It also provides assist for OpenCL, OpenGLES and OpenCV. Furthermore, the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Development Kit contains assist for the Intel® RealSense™ Depth Digital camera D435i and Panasonic TOF Digital camera to offer main depth-sensing abilities. Our strategic collaboration with TDK has been integral in enabling our Qualcomm RB5 Robotics Development Kit with TDK’s 6-axis, higher performance ICM-42688-P IMU, accompanied by a ICP-10111 barometric force and a T5818 Digital (PDM) bottom port microphone. TDK also enables the development kit with their ultrasonic Time-Of-Flight CH101 and CH201 methods, in addition to their embedded motor handle (HVC4223F) and higher performance IMU with created-in redundancy (IIM-46220). Extra systems by TDK contain Corridor influence and temperature sensors and validated and confirmed program algorithms committed to robotic programs. Last but not least, the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Development Kit makes use of 96Boards Client Edition Specification which will help offer you versatility for making innovative proof-of-ideas and immediate prototyping.
Crucial Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform technical options contain:
- Potent Heterogeneous Computing Abilities: For higher electrical power computing performance, the Qualcomm QRB5165 processor of Qualcomm RB5 System integrates Octa Main Qualcomm® Kryo™ 585 CPU, highly effective Qualcomm® Adreno™ 650 GPU, various DSPs (compute, audio and sensor) and ISPs. It also is made up of a committed, highly effective AI motor, which contains the Hexagon Tensor Accelerator, and committed pc vision hardware block (EnhancedVideo Analytics motor)
- 5th Generation Qualcomm AI Engine: New committed Hexagon Tensor Accelerator is dependent on the main fifth-technology Qualcomm Synthetic Intelligence Engine, offering a whopping fifteen TOPS of AI performance with higher AI and ML inferencing.
- Sophisticated Imaging Functionality: Qualcomm Spectra™ 480 Impression Signal Processor (ISP) captures rapidly, professional-quality shots and video clips, and can approach 2 Gigapixels for each second. This Gigapixel speed supports exceptional digital camera options, which includes Dolby Eyesight online video seize, 8K online video recording (at thirty FPS) and two hundred-megapixel shots, and at the same time captures 4K HDR online video (at a hundred and twenty FPS) and 64 MP shots with zero shutter lag. The hardware accelerator makes use of the Engine for Movie Analytics (EVA) to deal with all Computer Eyesight (CV) tasks. Extra ISP options contain HEIF picture seize, sluggish motion online video seize, and innovative online video seize formats (which includes Dolby Eyesight, HDR10, HDR10+, HEVC and HLG). 7 concurrent cameras facilitate simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), object detection and classification, autonomous navigation and path setting up to effectively and safely accomplish tasks in complicated indoor and out of doors options.
- Security Assistance: The Qualcomm® Safe Processing Unit is built to offer you robust security with no compromising electrical power. The Qualcomm Safe Processing Unit contains safe boot, cryptographic accelerators, Qualcomm® Trustworthy Execution Setting (TEE) and digital camera security and is FIPS a hundred and forty-2 accredited. Extra security options contain crucial provisioning security, malware protection, Qualcomm® Content Safety, Qualcomm® Cell Security, Qualcomm® Processor Security, and safe token to assist distant attestation and safe device provisioning. For innovative AI and ML security, the platform supports Biometric Authentication (which includes fingerprint, iris, voice, and face).
- Connectivity: The Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform supports extensive-vary Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.one, and 4G and 5G, providing the optimum level of connectivity out there.
Buyer and Spouse Endorsements for Qualcomm Technologies’ Robotics Solutions:
“We are really thrilled to assist the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform as the most up-to-date addition to the 96Boards.AI initiative,” mentioned Dr. Yang Zhang, director, 96Boards. “Qualcomm Robotics RB5 featuring QRB5165 Robotics Processor, is the 1st 96Boards compliant platform offering 5G, AI, Heterogeneous Computing, Computer Eyesight Engine, Sophisticated ISP Multi-Digital camera Concurrency for a big vary of programs. With our companions, we believe this item will revolutionize the robotic and drone market place as we know these days. We are happy to see our member Qualcomm Technologies go on to deliver its determination to the broader developer ecosystem, with a clear path for production.”
“EtherCAT is a basic, robust, very affordable, ethernet-dependent industrial protocol with built-in basic safety that delivers excellent performance in versatile topologies building it ideal for industrial robotics programs,” mentioned Jon Waters, president and standard manager, Acontis. “We are delighted to see Qualcomm Technologies realize the significance of EtherCAT for robotics programs and building it out there as section of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 System. We are thrilled to collaborate with Qualcomm Technologies to proliferate EtherCAT adoption across a variety of robotics programs.”
“ADLINK is really happy to assist the launch of Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform. As a worldwide chief in edge computing, ADLINK is fully commited to serving our buyers across industries with reducing-edge systems in AI, device vision and Industrial IoT,” mentioned Henry Hu, worldwide business development director, ADLINK Technology INC. “We are thrilled to be just one of the early adopters to embark on a collection of new developments dependent on Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform. By harnessing the electrical power of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform’s Qualcomm AI Engine and 5G connectivity, ADLINK will be equipped to drastically leverage our deep expertise in heterogeneous computing and market-quality ruggedness, and in the long run help a wide vary of next-technology programs these types of as autonomous cell robots, industrial robots, and unmanned aerial motor vehicles.”
“Today’s Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform builds on our continued do the job with Qualcomm Technologies to aid developers simply make clever robotics functions employing AWS cloud products and services,” mentioned Roger Barga, standard manager, robotics and automation products and services, Amazon Net Solutions, Inc. “Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies is built to give robotics developers a full cloud to edge solution, accelerating development, providing intelligence out of the box, and easing robotic lifecycle management.”
“AutoCore.ai is happy to announce its assist of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform item launch. AutoCore specializes in purposeful basic safety genuine time middleware and heterogeneous computing platform design and style. We are thrilled to help AutoCore’s core offering onto the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, leveraging the wealthy attribute sets, as effectively as its flexibility and electrical power performance to benefit AutoCore’s focus on buyers from the industrial automation, robotics and AGV market place,” suggests Cheng Chen, main technological know-how officer, AutoCore.
“Autoware Foundation is also happy to assist Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform launch. Autoware Foundation is a non-earnings corporation started to acquire, assist and advertise autonomous technique technological know-how. Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform suits really effectively with the Autoware.io heterogeneous computing platform system,” suggests Shinpei Kato, chairman, Autoware Foundation.
“Today’s worldwide functions have introduced the benefit of automation and robotics sharply into concentrate, so it’s remarkable to see Qualcomm Technologies handle these types of a wide array of robotics classes and programs with its increased platform, which powers the world’s greatest fleet of autonomous cell robots (AMRs) working in indoor general public spaces by its BrainOS program technological know-how. Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will offer a big innovation raise to the market at big, when enhancing San Diego’s reputation as a worldwide hub for AI and robotics,” suggests Dr. Jean Baptiste Passot, vice president, platform and AI, San Diego-dependent Brain Corp.
“The new Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform is a game changer for drone and autonomous robotics, as its device learning accelerators will let adopters to replace manual inputs with AI,” suggests Lorenz Meier, main govt officer, Auterion and chairman, Dronecode.
“We believe the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will offer you a critical gain for our next-technology unmanned techniques,” suggests, Roger Wells, vice president and standard manager, unmanned techniques and built-in methods, FLIR.”
“LG is evaluating the Qualcomm Robotics RB3/RB5 System, and programs to introduce next-technology robotic goods dependent on the platform next yr,” suggests LG Electronics Inc.
“As the main e-commerce platform for products and services, Meituan has invested in logistics and autonomous delivery for several years and saved discovering the options of market programs with the improvements these types of as drones and driverless delivery motor vehicles. Meituan is anticipating to cooperate with Qualcomm Technologies in the foreseeable future to explore the reducing-edge use scenarios in the market by utilizing the abilities of Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform in the parts which includes computing, AI, security and connectivity to deliver innovative products and services to our buyers,” suggests Meituan Dianping.
“The incredible total of AI processing and 5G abilities created into the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will help new autonomous drone encounters, these types of as navigating speedily by tight spaces when mapping the surroundings for objects of desire. We seem ahead to doing the job with Qualcomm Technologies and integrating the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform to make off of our existing do the job with the Protection Innovation Unit to extend the abilities of our sUAS platforms,” suggests Chad Sweet, main govt officer, ModalAI.
“The new Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform from Qualcomm Technologies is a desire chipset appear real. The platform integrates crucial abilities these types of as higher-performance heterogeneous computing, 5G/LTE, the Qualcomm AI Engine for on-device inferencing and pc vision, hi-fidelity sensor processing for perception, odometry for localization, mapping, navigation, strong security, and Wi-Fi connectivity, all demanded for NXT Robotics’ two autonomous AI driven security patrol and general public basic safety motor vehicles referred to as Maverick and Scorpion. The Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will allow us to leverage versatile design and style choices for the development and commercialization of our RobotogoAI autonomous platform making it possible for us to swiftly move from new attribute prototype to complete commercialization,” suggests Darin Andersen, main govt officer, cofounder, NXT Robotics Corp.
“Open Robotics is the hub of a worldwide group, making and applying open up program and hardware platforms for robotics. In our do the job we intention to lower the barrier to entry into the subject for college students, researchers, application developers, and business people alike. So I’m thrilled to see the launch of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, which will aid to spur still much more innovation in robotics across a range of application domains,” suggests Brian Gerkey, main govt officer, Open up Robotics.
“We have extensive-standing deep cooperation with Qualcomm Technologies dependent on Qualcomm Robotics RB3 platform to offer our buyers with reducing-edge goods. The newly launched Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will convey the market with technological know-how choices which includes the improved electrical power-performance, heterogeneous computing, AI, device learning and 5G abilities. OrionStar is wanting ahead to growing our collaborations to the new Qualcomm Robotic RB5 platform to deliver the unparalleled robotic goods and extreme interactive encounters,” suggests Bruce Wang, main system officer, OrionStar.
“5G and AI systems have demonstrated its highly effective driving force as market transitions to a new era. We are happy to turn into just one of the 1st in the market to adopt the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform. Siasun works intently with Qualcomm Technologies, with the highly effective computing functionality of up to fifteen TOPS dependent on the 5th technology Qualcomm AI Engine and other innovative options, Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will give Siasun Pongbot ping-pong robotic technique much more options which includes light-weight-bodyweight mobility, distant genuine-time interaction of various products, genuine-time AI computing and responses on cloud,” suggests Luo Yang, vice president, Siasun.
“We are thrilled about the assure that the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform retains for the small Unmanned Air Auto (sUAV) market. As the main U.S. manufacturer of autonomous drones, we leverage breakthrough pc vision and AI to make the world’s most clever traveling devices. The reducing edge 4G/LTE, 5G, heterogeneous compute, AI, digital camera, and security systems built-in into the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will help us to make the next technology autonomous drones,” Abe Bachrach, main technological know-how officer, co-founder, Skydio, Inc.
“SoftBank Robotics has been doing the job in deep cooperation with Qualcomm Technologies. Our R&D will leverage the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, employing its electrical power-efficient and higher-conclusion wireless connectivity options to empower our robotics roadmap.” suggests Xavier Lacherade, main working officer, SoftBank Robotics Europe.
“We are very pleased that we are an integral spouse of the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform launch and system,” mentioned Scott Deutsch, standard manager and vice president, around the globe revenue and advertising, InvenSense, a TDK group enterprise. “TDK’s innovative, built-in, and thorough robotic sensor choices are built especially for the next technology reduced-electrical power, higher performance sensing robots and are critical to the demands of today’s OEM development groups.”
“Thundercomm is a globe-main IoT item and solution supplier. With our years’ practical experience and expertise in the fields of AI and IoT, we can offer verified conclusion to conclusion methods to accelerate customers’ development period of time and business cycle,” suggests Hiro Cai, main govt officer, Thundercomm. “Together with Qualcomm Technologies, we have empowered our buyers to design and style and manufacture clever robots in diverse industries. Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform, as an innovative 5G and AI-dependent robotics platform, fulfills the higher need of market transformation, and encourages industrial upgrading. We are thrilled to cooperate with Qualcomm Technologies to make a broad array of robotics goods for next technology.”
“As a main autonomous driving program developer and technique integrator of Autoware, the main open up supply Advert program, Tier IV is really thrilled at the prospect of doing the job with Qualcomm Technologies and their buyers to ramp up the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform-dependent methods targeting the autonomous automobile market place. The higher performance, optimized architecture and comprehensive processing abilities will help the next technology of electrical power and cost optimized AV platforms running Autoware and help broader availability of Advert technological know-how to benefit a broad vary of programs and products and services,” suggests Dr. Kazuya Takeda, agent director, Tier IV, Inc.
Business goods dependent on the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform are anticipated to be out there in 2020. For much more facts and to get started building goods dependent on the platform, make sure you take a look at the Qualcomm® Developer Community webpage and the Qualcomm Technologies’ product webpage. A development kit for the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform is out there for pre-buy now from Thundercomm’s webpage.
Resource: Qualcomm