AI-powered fusion processor developer Alif Semiconductor is collaborating with Telit to produce developer kits providing cloud-connected hardware and software reference designs for a variety of distributed and IoT edge applications. The kits focus on connected AI/ML-enhanced vision, voice, vibration, and sensor applications such as AI cameras, biometric access control, and wearables. The kits aim to accelerate design and prototyping of IoT edge devices capable of sensing and making rapid localised decisions using AI/ML.

The kits build on the Alif Ensemble family of microcontrollers (MCUs) and fusion processors. Ensemble devices utilise aiPM power management technology that feature a high efficiency, always-on region that senses the environment using initial AI/ML processing, while a separate high performance region wakes as needed to rapidly execute additional heavy AI/ML workloads and returns to sleep. In addition to smart power management, the Ensemble family provides multiple layers of security based on a secure identity and strong root-of-trust for complete life-cycle management handling keys, certificates, secure boot, remote updates and more.

The developer kits include Telit’s wireless connectivity modules from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to LTE and 5G cellular, including low-power wide-area (LPWA) offerings in Cat-M and NB-IoT for IoT applications that require lower power consumption and longer battery life. The collaboration also leverages Telit’s cloud services and platforms to connect, manage, and secure the deployment of intelligent IoT edge devices the kits and the technology will enable.

“Together, Alif’s scalable low power secure processors plus Telit’s communication modules and cloud services make an ideal combination for anyone who wants to simply and rapidly develop and deploy IoT edge devices using the very latest technologies,” said Reza Kazerounian, Co-Founder and President at Alif Semiconductor. “The barriers are now removed to bring low-power Machine Learning to the edge, world-wide.”

“This collaboration delivers comprehensive IoT enablement for solutions leveraging the power of Alif processors for the vibrant new space of low-power and battery-powered AI/ML edge devices,” said Manish Watwani, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at Telit. “Innovators are looking for ‘cut-and-paste’ simplicity to integrate our modules with meaningful local AI/ML on edge devices. Bundled with our Telit NExT cellular connectivity and OneEdge device management and data orchestration platform, this opens the door to more utility and efficiency for our customers in this space.”