Focusing on edge AI/connectivity/network security, STMicroelectronics will improve the resilience of the STM32 supply chain

In the middle of this month, the long-awaited STM32 China Summit was held again. Several STMicroelectronics executives and experts were present to participate in this summit with the theme of "STM32 is more than just the core". As an annual feast for the MCU industry, this summit showcases many innovative embedded solutions based on STM32, as well as more than 200 STM32 vertical applications and other products in a wide range of fields. It also shows the industry new opportunities in the era of the Internet of Everything.

Mr. Cao Zhiping, President of STMicroelectronics China, first talked about the new strategy of STM32: "Today, we demonstrated a new breakthrough in the STM32 product portfolio and demonstrated STMicroelectronics' tenacity in innovation. STMicroelectronics has relied on With strong strength, we have expanded technology coverage and launched new products and solutions around edge artificial intelligence, information security and functional safety. We have also strengthened our manufacturing strategy, enriched our ecosystem, and better met customer needs. ”

　↑Zhiping Cao, Executive Vice President of STMicroelectronics and President of China

Regarding the key content of this conference, Mr. RemiEL-OUAZZANE, President of STMicroelectronics’ Microcontroller and Digital IC Products Group (MDG), further shared STM32’s innovations and breakthroughs in edge AI, interconnection and information security. He stated that three areas are critical to realizing the vision of intelligent edge based on cloud connectivity, and then demonstrated the foundation that can support all these products, including the STM32Cube ecosystem, application-oriented solutions, uncompromising quality assurance, and of course There is a very important point - STMicroelectronics’ continuous investment in the supply chain.

　↑Remi El-Ouazzane, President, Microcontroller and Digital IC Products Group (MDG), STMicroelectronics

Laying out edge AI for more than 10 years

The rise of AI has brought many new challenges and opportunities, one of which is that having AI capabilities has become a must in many fields such as smart homes and industrial automation. STMicroelectronics has been working on edge AI technology for 10 years. At the scene, STMicroelectronics demonstrated a washing machine with edge AI and motor control, built based on STM32G4 and SLLIMM IPM chips. This case uses edge AI to accurately weigh clothes to improve the electrical and water efficiency levels of motor control equipment, and uses a zero-speed full torque control algorithm to save 15-40% of energy in the motor drive of the laundry process.

Ricardo De-Sa-Earp, executive vice president of STMicroelectronics and general manager of the general microcontroller sub-product department, said that ST has long been concerned about the combination of artificial intelligence and MCU products. In STM32N6, there is a combination of MCU and neural network accelerator. The subsequent new product STM32MP2 will also be specially equipped with neural network accelerator

ST has successfully developed software tools that combine artificial intelligence and apply them to neural networks, machine learning and MCUs. We can provide customers with comprehensive software support to assist them in actually applying the developed products into production. ST not only has STM32Cube.AI and NanoEdge AI Studio software tools, but also cooperates with NVIDIA to integrate NIVIDIA TAO and STM32Cube.AI tools, allowing developers to seamlessly train and implement neural network models on STM32 microcontrollers.

Powerful and scalable STM32 cloud ecosystem

The connectivity exhibition area of ​​this summit brings together various wireless connection solutions developed with ST wireless connection technology, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa, and NFC, which are suitable for smart industries, smart homes, wearable devices, and things. Internet etc.

In addition to the demonstration of control functions based on STM32 series products, a wonderful demonstration of a complete production line with an integrated robotic arm was shown by simulating actual application scenarios of factory automation. This task seems simple, but all operations require high connectivity, communication and intelligence.

To demonstrate how to connect all units, this robotic arm prototype uses an IO-Link master with an EtherCAT interface. The design of the master station uses the STM32L4 microcontroller and the master transceiver L6360 for IO-Link communication. In this demonstration, the main station connects the air valve execution controller, two conveyor belt stepper motors, robotic arms and other terminal equipment. Therefore, the system can monitor each unit via the IO-Link interface.

The cloud ecosystem provided by ST is also very flexible and upgradable. In the STM32 ecosystem, wireless-related upgrades, including possibilities, can support devices from developers or enterprises. Users can develop and upgrade themselves through these upgrade methods in the ecosystem, or they can use the roadmap of partners in the ST ecosystem.

For customers of older generation STM32L4 products, they can additionally obtain support for wireless functions. In this way, they can ensure that their data can be effectively migrated and transmitted, and can be further enhanced by using our STM32Cube.AI. The STM32WBA product has strong software migration and data migration performance, which is also a very significant selling point of it.

Build better network security

Information security has always been an area of ​​focus for STMicroelectronics. In March this year, STMicroelectronics also released the industry's first microcontroller system chip security solution - STM32Trust TEE Secure Manager.

Ricardo De-Sa-Earp, Executive Vice President of STMicroelectronics and General Manager of the General Microcontroller Sub-Product Division, said, “In the Internet of Things industry, information security has become an important topic of concern in the industry. At the same time, more and more Manufacturers are also paying more attention to the security of equipment. Based on its own powerful information security solutions, STMicroelectronics not only has IP related encryption algorithms for the hardware, but also some encryption technologies including the information itself, and has also obtained PSA Level 3 security Certification."

It can be said that STMicroelectronics provides the industry with a "toolbox" of security function options. Customers can choose some of the security function modules based on actual implementation scenarios and application needs. For example, on a smart camera in a smart home, if we need relevant security functions, we can select some corresponding security function products in the "toolbox" based on the actual use, including STM32H5 and existing microprocessors. MCU.

At the same time, STMicroelectronics also cooperates with SESIP and PSA to use security functions as a key foundation for security assurance. For example, STM32H5 can provide scalable security and connectivity performance, and developers can implement "out-of-the-box" authentication services through STM32H5's unique Secure Manager. In addition to STM32H5, STMicroelectronics will also promote Secure Manager to more different series of STM32 MCUs in the future.

Improving the resilience of the STM32 supply chain

In addition to the internal capacity growth plan, STMicroelectronics is also seeking more external foundry capacity support and working closely with its foundry factories to strengthen process technology capabilities at the 90nm and 40nm nodes. Currently, most STM32 microcontroller and microprocessor product lines mainly use 90nm and 40nm node process technologies, covering ultra-low power consumption, mainstream, high-performance, wireless MCUs and MPUs. It is expected that STMicroelectronics will invest US$4 billion in 2023 to increase production capacity.

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