The future of intelligent machines got a major boost at Embedded World 2024 with Qualcomm's unveiling of next-generation AI-ready IoT platforms, the Qualcomm QCC730 Wi-Fi SoC and the RB3 Gen 2 Platform. This signifies a significant leap towards a smarter and more connected edge.

Key takeaways for tech enthusiasts:

• Micro-power Wi-Fi system- Qualcomm QCC730: Micro-powered Wi-Fi solution enabling Wi-Fi for the world of battery-powered IoT platforms. QCC730 enables devices to support TCP/IP networking capabilities while remaining form-factor and completely wireless This innovative SoC boasts a staggering 88% reduction in power consumption, enabling longer battery life and continuous operation for mission-critical industrial applications and battery-powered wearables.
• RB3 Gen 2 Platform Supercharges On-Device AI: This platform delivers a 10x improvement in on-device AI processing power. Imagine industrial robots with enhanced decision-making capabilities, drones with real-time object recognition for obstacle avoidance, and intelligent machines that can learn and adapt in real-world scenarios.

These advancements translate to:

• Reduced reliance on cloud processing:  The RB3 Gen 2 platform, supported by the recently announced Qualcomm AI Hub, empowers faster response times and improved security for latency-sensitive applications. The Qualcomm AI Hub provides a library of continuously refreshed pre-optimized AI models for superior on-device AI performance, lower memory utilization, and power-optimized operation. This allows for an out-of-the-box optimized experience across a variety of broadly used AI models deployed across IoT and embedded applications. Developers can easily integrate these optimized models into their applications, reducing time-to-market and unlocking the benefits of on-device AI implementations such as immediacy, reliability, privacy, personalization, and cost savings.
• Simplified development for edge AI:  The RB3 Gen 2 platform features support for Qualcomm® Linux®. This comprehensive package of OS, software, tools, and documentation is precisely designed for Qualcomm Technologies' IoT platforms. It offers a unified Linux distribution that caters to multiple SoCs, starting with the QCS6490 processor, featuring essential components like the Long-Term Support (LTS) kernel, to enable a consistent and superior developer experience.

Qualcomm's focus goes beyond just hardware. They're building a robust ecosystem with developer tools and support like the Qualcomm AI Hub and Qualcomm® Linux®, accelerating the development and deployment of next-generation IoT solutions.

Author: Narayan Gokhale, Vice-President and Principal Analyst, Quadrant Knowledge Solutions