ARM released the ultra-small core Cortex-A32, which focuses on ultra-low power consumption

A few days ago, semiconductor IP supplier ARM launched the ARM Cortex-A32 for next-generation embedded products, the new member uses the ARMv8-A architecture, which is a 32-bit embedded application processor core, compared with other similar processors, Cortex-A32 has the smallest size and the best energy efficiency.

According to James McNiven, general manager of ARM's processor division, the Cortex-A32 processor uses ARM TrustZone security technology and builds on the foundation laid by the Cortex-A5 and Cortex-A7 processors for embedded applications such as single-board computing, IoT edge nodes, and wearables. With the advantages of ARMv8-A architecture in terms of performance and power consumption, it helps partners quickly develop diverse embedded systems.

Currently, the Cortex-A5 and Cortex-A7 processors based on ARMv7-A architecture are two widely used application processors in the industry and have become the core of many embedded applications. The 32-bit processor Cortex-A32 based on ARMv8-A architecture can save up to 25% energy efficiency compared to the 32-bit embedded core Cortex-A7. In the smallest configuration, the Cortex-A32 occupies less than 0.25 square millimeters in size, and the total power consumption of the 100MHz 28nm process node is less than 4 milliwatts.

The Cortex-A32 supports multiple configuration modes, from single-core to quad-core. As a result, the Cortex-A32 is highly scalable to support not only the smallest and most energy-efficient computing devices, but also the needs of IoT gateways and industrial computing applications.

Maarten Ectors, vice president of Canonical's IoT division, said: IoT nodes are becoming more diverse, and the more complex the nodes, the more complex the operating systems they require. Combining the Snappy Ubuntu core with the ultra-energy-efficient processing power and scalability of Cortex-A32 will help developers further expand the scope of IoT devices.