Renesas Electronics recently announced the expansion of its RZ/V Series of microprocessors (MPUs) with the new RZ/V2L MPUs designed for entry-level AI-enabled applications. As part of the RZ/V Series, the new MPUs incorporate Renesas’ exclusive AI accelerator – the DRP-AI (Dynamically Reconfigurable Processor) – to make embedded AI easier and more power efficient. The new RZ/V2L shares several features with its predecessor, the RZ/V2M, such as high-precision AI inference capabilities combined with top-class power efficiency. It also includes optimizations such as tailoring the DRP-AI operating frequency and memory interface for an entry-level MPU.

The DRP-AI provides both real-time AI inference and image processing functions with the capabilities essential for camera support such as color correction and noise reduction. This enables customers to develop AI-based vision applications, such as point-of-sale (POS) terminals and robot vacuum cleaners, without requiring an external image signal processor (ISP). In addition, the RZ/V2L’s excellent power efficiency eliminates the need for heat dissipation measures such as heat sinks or cooling fans. Now AI can be implemented cost efficiently not only in surveillance cameras and industrial equipment, but also in a wide range of applications including home appliances and consumer electronics.

The RZ/V2L is also package- and pin-compatible with the existing RZ/G2L general-purpose MPUs. This allows RZ/G2L users to easily upgrade to the RZ/V2L for additional AI functions without needing to modify the system configuration, keeping migration costs low.

“One of the most important trends in the electronics industry today is the incorporation of AI into embedded devices – especially AI for interpreting sensor data, such as images,” said Jeff Bier, General Chairman of the Embedded Vision Summit and Founder of the Edge AI and Vision Alliance. “Innovative processors like the RZ/V2L are key for enabling perceptual AI to be incorporated into a wide range of cost- and power-constrained IoT devices.”

“Our new entry-level AI accelerator products provide customers with the flexibility to select the most suitable product from a wide range of MPU offerings,” said Hiroto Nitta, Senior Vice President and Head of SoC Business in the IoT and Infrastructure Business Unit at Renesas. “These AI-optimized solutions will expand the use of embedded AI to a wider range of applications such as home appliances and consumer electronics, as customers can now implement AI capability with lower system costs.”

As part of the the RZ/V2L development environment, Renesas offers a complimentary DRP-AI Translator, a tool that automatically converts AI models into an executable format. The input format is the industry-standard Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX). Developers can leverage the DRP-AI while using the tools they are accustomed to, allowing them to immediately start using the RZ/V2L to evaluate AI models based on proven learning data.

Sample shipments of the RZ/V2L start today, and mass production is scheduled to begin in December 2021. For more information on the RZ/V2L MPUs, please visit: https://www.renesas.com/rzv2l.