STMicroelectronics has launched a series of 32-bit STM32 microcontrollers which integrate accelerated machine-learning (ML) capabilities alongside a high-performance 800MHz Arm® Cortex®-M55 CPU core.
The new STM32N6 MCUs are the first to embed the Neural-ART Accelerator, a neural processing unit (NPU). With the on-board NPU, the STM32N6 provides 600 times more machine-learning performance than a current high-end STM32 MCU. This enables cost-sensitive and power-conscious consumer and industrial products to implement AI video and audio functions in small embedded systems.
In robotics in particular, the STM32N6 machine vision capabilities allow designers to create a new generation of low-power, autonomous machines. The STM32N6 incorporates an image signal processor (ISP) which provides direct signal processing, enabling the use of simple and affordable image sensors. This ISP can be configured using the free ST ISP IQTune software, a cutting-edge tool which enables the developer to customize image signal processing parameters such as exposure time, contrast and color balance. This image processing sub-system can feed vision data to the NPU to enable functions such as object recognition and autonomous navigation.
The high-speed, low-power AI inferencing performed by the STM32N6 is due to the Neural-ART Accelerator NPU. This NPU features nearly 300 configurable multiply-accumulate (MAC) units which can implement up to 600 giga-operations per second (GOPS). The NPU includes dedicated streaming engines which optimize data flow and minimize internal buffer usage and power. The accelerator supports on-the-fly weight decompression and real-time data encryption and decryption.
The high ML performance is complemented by the system control side of the MCU. The Cortex-M55 core achieves a high CoreMark® score of 3,360. The MCU also includes 4.2 Mbytes of RAM, providing sufficient memory to support data-intensive AI and multimedia workloads. Two 64-bit AXI interfaces provide the high intra-chip bandwidth required to unlock the full power of the Neural-ART Accelerator. The STM32N6 also supports hexa-SPI, octo-SPI, and FMC interfaces.
ST provides development software to support the implementation of AI functions. The Edge AI Suite is a comprehensive set of software tools for the development of edge ML applications. The software tools enable developers to implement AI models in various formats such as TensorFlow Lite, Keras, and ONNX.
The STM32N6 MCUs are supplied in six different packages with pin counts ranging from 142 to 264, and from 0.4mm to 0.8mm pitch.
Part Number: STM32N6570-DK
The STM32N6570-DK Discovery kit is a complete demonstration and development platform for the Arm® Cortex®‑M55 core‑based STM32N6 series microcontrollers from STMicroelectronics. These MCUs include an ST Neural-ART Accelerator, a neural processing unit (NPU) for accelerating AI inference, making this kit the ideal tool for developing proofs-of-concept and prototypes of AI-enhanced product designs.
The kit includes a full range of hardware features for evaluating the wide range of peripherals supported by the STM32N6 MCUs. Four flexible extension connectors provide expansion capabilities for functions such as wireless connectivity, analog signal processing, and sensing.
The STM32N6570-DK Discovery kit integrates an STLINK-V3EC embedded in-circuit debugger and programmer for the STM32 MCU, with a USB Virtual COM port bridge and a comprehensive MCU software package.
Key features of the Discovery kit include:
Sign up for access to exclusive development boards, an essential tool for many innovative design projects.
*Available to pre-qualified EMEA customers only.
