Resource-rich MCU targets wearable IoT

Richard Quinnell
EDN (February 29, 2016)

It seems like a contradiction in terms to talk about a resource-rich MCU in conjunction with the small, battery-powered application space that is wearables. But ARM aims to resolve that contradiction with its recent release of the Cortex-A32 processor. The combination of processor architecture and process technology in the new device does just that, boasting a 25% more efficient 32-bit core in as little as 0.25 mm2 of silicon.

The Cortex-A32 is built on ARM's ARMv8-A architecture and represents an upgrade path for the popular A-5 and A7 architectures used in many 32-bit application processors. Not only does it offer higher performance for lower power than the A7, the new A32 increases the resources available for handling 32-bit applications. More than 100 32-bit instructions have been added to the A32's architecture, including enhancements for media performance, software encryption, and floating point calculations.

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