For the first time ever, engineers just got NPU-class endpoint AI processing, Cortex-M-class control, and wireless connectivity on a single piece of silicon…
ipXchange was thrilled to have Alif Semiconductor as a key partner on our booth at Embedded World 2024, but what we can now reveal is that this disruptive provider of AI/ML-ready MCUs has just released its first wireless SoC: the Balletto B1!
To find out what this new device brings to the table, Guy chats to Sree Durbha, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Alif, who explains how this first entry in the Balletto family builds on the endpoint-AI-capable Cortex-M55 + Ethos-U55 microNPU architecture of Alif’s E1 Ensemble MCU to add multi-protocol wireless connectivity!
This Matter-ready SoC boasts Bluetooth LE 5.3 and IEEE 802.15.4 wireless connectivity to support applications such as wireless earbuds, hearing aids, smart wearables, and handheld point-of-sale systems, to name a few use cases.
Balletto is a particularly good fit for those first two use cases thanks to the powerful on-chip audio signal processing capabilities, Bluetooth LE 6 audio codec and Auracast support, and ultra-low-power endpoint AI functionality.
All this can be used in combination to intelligently remove background noise for a great listening experience while simultaneously extending the product battery life by more than twice what is expected in today’s market.
A dedicated development kit will be available on general release of Balletto in the second half of 2024, and this will feature a wealth of interfaces that are particularly geared towards testing the audio capabilities of these new devices. This includes 14x microphone inputs and standard external audio outputs, as well as a display and camera interfaces for testing visual AI workloads that may be useful for applications like smart doorbell cameras.
To learn more about this exciting development, follow the link to the board page below, where you can apply to evaluate this technology for your upcoming commercial projects. For those already working with Alif’s technology, previous projects can be ported from the Ensemble devices to Balletto when these devices become available.
Keep designing!
Want to learn more about Alif’s AI-ready devices? Check out ipXchange’s previous discussions about the Ensemble family of MCUs and fusion processors:
Which Alif AI/ML dev kit is right for you?
Ask an ipXpert: How to bring energy-efficient, next-level AI functionality to MCU-based products
Artificial Intelligence defined! Alif Semiconductor’s MCUs aren’t just looking in the answer book
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