MPU matching 3000 CoreMark ARM Cortex M85 MCU from Renesas
Date: 07/11/2023
Are you looking for the best microcontroller in terms processing performance matching exclusive embedded processors/MPU you use for higher processor performance. To make such microcontroller chips possible, Arm has made available in new processor core called Arm Cortex-M85 with more scalar and additional AI processing abilities. Renesas is the first chipmaker to launch microcontroller powered by Arm Cortex-M85 processor core. The new microcontroller series called RA8 Series are already available in volumes.
RA8 Series feature a performance breakthrough of 3000 CoreMark points and 6.39 CoreMark/MHz, making this chip eligible to replace MPUs in your embedded designs and also eliminate the use of the exclusive DSPs.
More about Arm Cortex-M85 processor core:
Arm Cortex-M85 processor core uses Arm Helium technology, Arm’s M-Profile Vector Extension that provides up to a 4X performance boost for digital signal processor (DSP) and machine learning (ML) implementations compared to Arm Cortex-M7 processor core.
Cortex-M85 core includes Arm TrustZone technology which enables isolation and secure/non-secure partitioning of memory, peripherals and code.
Other advanced security features include immutable storage for a strong hardware Root-of-Trust, Octal SPI with Decryption-on-the-fly (DOTF), secure authenticated debug, secure factory programming and tamper protection.
The Armv8.1-M architecture introduces Pointer Authentication and Branch Target Identification (PACBTI) security extension that provides mitigation for software attacks targeting memory safety violations and memory corruptions.
If you're concerned about this chip consuming comparatively higher power, Renesas provided good enough low power features and multiple low power modes to improve power efficiency.A combination of low power modes, independent power domains, lower voltage range, fast wakeup time and low typical active and standby currents enables lower overall system power and allows customers to meet regulatory requirements. The new Arm Cortex-M85 core also performs various DSP/ML tasks at much lower power.
Let's look at other key features of this RA8M1 Group MCUs:
it integrates 2MB/1MB Flash memory and 1MB SRAM (including TCM, 512KB ECC protected)
The peripherals available to xSPI compliant Octal SPI with XIP and decryption-on-the-fly (DOTF), CAN-FD, Ethernet, USBFS/HS, 16-bit camera interface, and I3C.
Renesas said there are a lot of designs already made using RA8M1 Group MCUs. A biometric company called Mantra Softech has designed fingerprint scanner using RA8M1 Group MCU. Where the Mantra's Technical Director Mr. Hiren Bhandari said “We are delighted with the functionality and efficacy of the RA8M1 MCUs. The combination of high performance and Helium technology enables us to integrate AI features into this solution, giving us a distinct market advantage. Additionally, the camera interface and significantly high memory allowed us to simplify our design.”
Another advantage of using this microcontroller use if you're already using Renesas RA Family of MCUs, you can replace the older MCUs with this new MCU through easy porting.
The RA8 Series also targets PSA Certified Level 2 + Secure Element (SE), NIST CAVP and FIPS 140-3 certifications.
Renesas is offering reference designs such as smart robot vacuum Cleaner and smart glasses
based on RA8M1 for a quicker solutions to market. Production ready solutions or made available by Renesas through its partners. The evaluation kits are also available immediately from Renesas.
Learn more about this product at: renesas.com/RA8M1
