Just some thoughts on Socionext, timelines and relationships that may or may not (?) have been covered previously.
Musing where all the tentacles lead to, and everything does appear to be moving to a critical mass type stage for the upcoming year.
Late 2018 this joint project occurred.
Note a couple of the project partners, project brief and expected end date
Socionext and Partners to Start NEDO-Sponsored Project on
Developing ʻEvolutionary, Low-Power AI Edge LSIʼ
Langen/Germany, 17. October, 2018 ---
Socionext Inc., ArchiTek Corporation, and Toyota
Industries Corporation have signed an agreement to start a research and development project on
ʻEvolutionary, Low-Power AI Edge LSIʼ.
The project is being sponsored by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a Japanese governmental organization promoting the development and introduction of new energy technologies.
It is scheduled to conclude in March 2022 with the
goal to commercialize technologies in autonomous driving, surveillance systems, drones, robots, AI powered home appliances and others.
The project consists of the following:
(1) Virtual Engine Architecture (ArchiTek Corporation)
To develop a new architecture that achieves a compact device, low power consumption and flexibility, all at the same time.
(2) Real-Time SLAM (Toyota Industries Corporation)
To establish real-time SLAM (Simultaneous Localization And Mapping) technology for self-driving machines.
(3) Quantification DNN (Socionext Inc.)
To address and solve low recognition rate problem with DNN quantization, required for high speed and low power AI processing.
(4) Edge Environment Optimization (Socionext Inc.)
To study a method to identify and optimize how to share functions between the cloud and the edge.
The project is scheduled to conclude in March 2022.
Socionext aims to establish the new "AI edge solution platform" based on the outcome of the project and apply it to a wide range of applications for expanding the company’s business and global market outreach.
Langen/Germany, 17. October, 2018 --- Socionext Inc., ArchiTek Corporation, and Toyota Industries Corporation have signed an agreement to start a research…
www.eu.socionext.com
ArchiTek Intelligence™ Pixel Engine (aIPE)エッジで低消費電力、低コストなAIソリューションを提供
architek.ai
Expanding the Five Senses with Edge Computing and
Solving Social Problems
Every minute and second, a tremendous amount of information is sucked up from edge devices to the cloud.
However, such information is by no means being used effectively.
From daily routines such as driving to medical care and disaster sites,
people are stressed to be forced to make decisions from a huge number of options in every scene.
Therefore, innovation in edge computing is now required.
Without waiting for a few seconds to communicate with the cloud, respond to human needs.
Always be proactive and respond to the situation.
It moves at the moment when people, society, want something, or before they become aware of that desire.
What we are aiming for is technology that expands the five senses.
Technological innovation with a radius of 1 meter.
I want to see more, I want to know more, I want to feel more.
When the edge changes, the world you feel changes.
Since its foundation in 1926, Toyota Industries has provided innovative products, leading changes in the times for 90 years. Today, Toyota Industries has grown into a global company, offering customers around the world an array of quality products, includ
www.toyota-industries.com
NEDO is a national research and development agency in Japan that creates innovation by promoting technological development necessary for realization of a sustainable society.
www.nedo.go.jp
In mid 2019 this occurred:
BrainChip and Socionext Sign a Definitive Agreement to Develop the Akida™ Neuromorphic System-on-Chip
BrainChip and Socionext Sign a Definitive Agreement to Develop the Akida™ Neuromorphic System-on-Chip
brainchip.com
In Mar 2020 this occurred:
BrainChip and Socionext Provide a New Low-Power Artificial Intelligence Platform for AI Edge Applications
Socionext to offer its SynQuacerTM Multi-Core Processor with BrainChip’s AkidaTM SoC
BrainChip will provide training, technical and customer support
Companies will jointly identify target end markets and customers
Socionext also offers a high-efficiency, parallel multi-core processor
SynQuacerTM SC2A11 as a server solution for various applications.
Socionext’s processor is available now and the two companies expect the Akida SoC engineering samples to be available in the third quarter of 2020.
In addition to integrating BrainChip’s AI technology in an SoC, system developers and OEMs may combine BrainChip’s proprietary Akida device and Socionext’s processor to
create high-speed, high-density, low-power systems to perform image and video analysis, recognition and segmentation in surveillance systems, live-streaming and other video applications.
Socionext to offer its SynQuacerTM Multi-Core Processor with BrainChip’s AkidaTM SoC BrainChip will provide training, technical and customer support Companies will jointly identify target end mark
www.tw.socionext.com
BrainChip and Socionext Provide a New Low-Power Artificial Intelligence Platform for AI Edge Applications March 23, 2020
brainchip.com
Also in Mar 2020:
Socionext Prototypes Low-Power AI Chip with Quantized Deep Neural Network Engine
Delivers Significant Expansion of Edge Computing Capabilities, Performance and Functionality
SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 17, 2020 ---Socionext Inc. has developed a prototype chip that incorporates newly-developed quantized Deep Neural Network (DNN) technology, enabling highly-advanced AI processing for small and low-power edge computing devices.
The prototype is a part of a research project on “Updatable and Low Power AI-Edge LSI Technology Development” commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan. The chip features a "quantized DNN engine" optimized for deep learning inference processing at high speeds with low power consumption.
Quantized DNN Engine
In their place, Socionext has developed a proprietary architecture based on "quantized DNN technology" for reducing the parameter and activation bits required for deep learning. The result is improved performance of AI processing along with lower power consumption. The architecture incorporates bit reduction including 1-bit (binary) and 2-bit (ternary) in addition to the conventional 8-bit, as well as the company’s original parameter compression technology, enabling a large amount of computation with fewer resources and significantly less amounts of data.
Deep Learning Software Development Environment
Socionext has also built a deep learning software development environment. Incorporating TensorFlow as the base framework, it allows developers to perform original, low-bit "quantization-aware training" or "post-training quantization". When used in combination with the new chip, users can choose and apply the optimal quantization technology to various neural networks and execute highly accurate processing. The new chip will add the most advanced computer vision functionality to small form factor, low-power edge devices. Target applications include advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), security camera, and factory automation among others.
Socionext is currently conducting circuitry fine-tuning and performance optimization through the evaluation of this prototype chip. The company will continue working on research and development with the partner companies towards the completion of the NEDO-commissioned project, to deliver the AI Edge LSI as the final product.
NEDO Project title:
Project for Innovative AI Chips and Next-Generation Computing Technology Development
Development of innovative AI edge computing technologies
Updatable and Low Power AI-Edge LSI Technology Development
Introducing our prototype chip with quantized Deep Neural Network (DNN) technology enabling highly-advanced AI processing for edge devices.
socionextus.com
They also have products like what has been covered previously:
4th Generation Smart Graphic Display Controllers Enable Panoramic and Multi-displays
Langen, Germany, Milpitas, Calif., and Yokohama, Japan, July 15, 2022 --- Socionext, a global leader in the design and development of innovative System-on-Chip products, has announced a new series of smart display controllers, “SC1721/ SC1722/ SC1723 Series”, certified with ISO26262 for functional safety. Samples will be available at the end of July 2022.
The automotive industry is currently undergoing major transformations that occur approximately once every 100 years. The E/E (Electrical/Electronic) architecture, which is the system structure of automobiles, is changing from a distributed architecture to a domain/zone architecture. Automakers are adopting integrated cockpit systems linking multiple displays, such as meters, In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI), and head-up displays. Larger display sizes and screen resolutions are also driving the demand for improved image quality. Due to the changes, complying with the ISO26262 functional safety standard is critical for developing new automotive ADAS and infotainment systems.
Socionext improves vehicle safety by adding a mechanism to monitor external LED driver error detection and internal algorithm and supports functional safety (ASIL-B) by complying with the ISO26262 development process.
These features enable new architectures, such as panoramic displays for dashboards, to meet a growing trend of larger multi-display applications.
SC1721/ SC1722/ SC1723 - New series of smart display controllers certified with ISO26262 for functional safety.
socionextus.com
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