IoT applications are a target for SoC FPGAs

Bringing together low power consumption, defence-grade security, and thermal efficiency, the PolarFire system-on-chip (SoC) field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are an ideal choice for connected systems and smart applications, including Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

The Microchip PolarFire SoC FPGAs feature a five-core Linux-capable processor subsystem based on the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA) as well as a large, flexible L2 memory subsystem.

They offer exceptional low-power performance, delivering up to 50 percent lower power than comparable FPGAs. The devices span from 25k to 460k logic elements and feature 12.7G transceivers.

These RISC-V-enabled SoC FPGAs join Microchip's RISC-V ecosystem, a suite of tools and design resources that supports a range of operating systems and ecosystem partners.

They support a range of applications, including imaging and machine learning, industrial automation, defense, automotive, and communications.

The PolarFire SoC FPGAs are supported by the PolarFire SoC FPGA Icicle Kit, available to order from Mouser. The low-cost development platform uses onboard memory — including LPDDR4, QSPI, and eMMC flash — to run Linux off the shelf.

In addition to the onboard PolarFire SoC FPGA, the Icicle Kit includes a multi-rail power sensor to monitor different power domains, as well as a PCIe root port and mikroBUS and Raspberry Pi expansion ports.

The PolarFire SoC FPGA Icicle Kit supports a range of wired connectivity options, enabling rapid prototyping and quick time to market.