Texas Instruments Announces New MCU Portfolio
July 12, 2021
News
Texas Instruments introduced a new high-performance microcontroller (MCU) portfolio designed to advance real-time control, networking, and analytics applications at the edge.
According to the company, the new Sitara AM2x MCUs allow engineers to achieve 10x the computing capability of traditional, flash-based MCUs. This high-performance portfolio is designed to close the gap between today’s MCUs and processors, enabling designers to enhance applications such as factory automation, robotics, automotive systems, and sustainable energy management.
(Image credit: Texas Instruments)
Built around high-performance Arm MCU cores, the SitaraTM AM2x MCU portfolio includes single and multicore devices running at speeds up to 1 GHz and integrates specialized peripherals and accelerators. Implementing high-performance processing capabilities can be achieved with accessible tools and software designed to simplify evaluation and reduce design complexity and cost.
(Image credit: Texas Instruments)
The AM243x MCUs, the first family of devices available in the AM2x portfolio, feature up to four Arm Cortex-R5F cores, each running up to 800 MHz. This high processing speed is suitablel in factory equipment such as robotics, where fast computations coupled with the MCU’s internal memory can enhance a robot’s precision of motion and speed of movement. The additional processing capability enables designers to add analytics for functions such as predictive maintenance. Per the company, in typical applications, AM243x devices can achieve this level of performance while consuming less than 1 W of active power.
(Image credit: Texas Instruments)
Integration brings real-time control and networking to the edge Sitara AM243x MCUs integrate sensing and actuation peripherals to enable low-latency real-time processing and control for factory automation as well as communications accelerators to simplify industrial networking. AM243x devices expand upon TI’s support of multiple gigabit industrial Ethernet protocols and time-sensitive networking (TSN), enabling next-generation factory networks. With AM243x, engineers can leverage certified protocol stacks available directly from TI to support.
EtherNet/IPTM, EtherCAT , PROFINET , IO-Link Master, and more are enabled to meet industrial communication standards. On-chip security features on the AM243x MCUs support the latest encryption requirements, and integrated functional safety mechanisms, diagnostics, and collateral help enable system integrators target Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3 of the IEC 61508 standard with their industrial designs.
To reduce the complexity of design and development, TI created the Sitara AM243x LaunchPadTM Development Kit, enabling the evaluation of high-performance MCUs for less than $100. With this evaluation tool and the Sitara MCU+ software framework, developers can start using the precision real-time control and out-of-the-box networking capabilities in the AM243x MCU. Developers also have access to application-specific reference examples, an ecosystem of tools and software, and the MCU+ Academy training portal to help them streamline designs and accelerate time to market.
Preproduction versions of the AM2431, AM2432 and AM2434 are now available exclusively on TI.com in a 17-mm-by-17-mm or 11-mm-by-11-mm package. Pricing starts at US$6.05 for 1,000-unit quantities. The AM243x LaunchPad Development Kit is also available on TI.com for US$89.
For more information, visit: www.ti.com
