Qualcomm Robotics RB5 Platform Targets the Development of 5G and AI-Enabled Robots

Qualcomm Robotics RB3 Development Platform powered by Snapdragon 845 processor gets an upgrade with Robotics RB5 Platform equipped with Qualcomm QRB5165 Robotics processor designed for industrial-grade temperature operating, and featuring a 15 TOPS Qualcomm AI Engine fo artificial intelligence and machine learning applications such as heterogeneous computing, enhanced computer vision, and multi-camera concurrency.

The development platform also supports for 4G and 5G connectivity via a companion module and runs Ubuntu and ROS 2.0 operating systems.

Qualcomm Robotics RB5 development kit specifications:

• SoC – Qualcomm QRB5165 with  Kryo 858 CPU @ up to 2.84 GHz,  Adreno 650 GPU, Adreno 665 VPU, Adreno 995 DPU, Qualcomm Hexagon DSP with quad HVX, and Qualcomm Spectra 480 ISP
• System Memory – 16GB LPDDR5 RAM (POP)
• Storage – 128 GB UFS3.0 storage, MicroSD card slot
• Video Output – 1x HDMI 1.4 port
• Audio – 2x WSA8810 Class-D on-board speaker amplifier, built-in PDM MIC, support for 4-mic array via mezzanine (NAV MEZZ)
• Cameras
  • Optional Intel RealSense D435i
  • Part of Vision Kit – IMX577 l, GMSL l, OV9282, Panasonic MN34906 ToF Sensor
• Connectivity
  • Gigabit Ethernet
  • WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFI 5 2.4/5GHz 2×2 MIMO
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • On-board WLAN/BT antennas
  • 5G including 5G mmWave and sub-6 GHz by using Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System
• USB – 1x USB 2.0 Micro B (Debug only) , 1 x USB 3.0 OTG Type C port, 2x USB 3.0 Type-A ports
• Sensors – Accelerometer + Gyro sensor (TDK ICM-42688/ ICM-42688-P), barometric pressure
• Expansion interfaces
  • 3x 60-pin high-speed connectors
    • HS1 connector with SDC I/F, 4-lane MIPI DSI, USB 2.0, 2x CCI I2C, 2L+4L-MIPI CSI
    • HS2 connector with 2x 4-lane MIPI CSI, 1x SPI, 1-lane PCIe 3.0 gen3L, 1x USB 3.0, 8x GPIO
    • HS3 connector with 2x 4-lame MIPI CSI, 1x 4-lane MIPI CSI (plus 2-lane CSI in HS1), 2x RF CLK, 2-lane PCIe 3.0, 2-lane PCIe 3.0 (plus PCIe 1-lane in HS2), 4-lane MIPI DSI
  • 3x low-speed headers
    • LS1 – 40-pin header (2.54mm pitch( with 2x UART, SPI, I2S/PCM, 2x I2C, 12x GPIO, DC power signals
    • LS2 – 46-pin header (1.27mm pitch) with 2x speaker, 3x DMIC I/F, CAN, I2S, GPIOs, PWM, ADC, I2C, DC power signals
    • LS3 – 46-pin header (1.27mm pitch) with 2x SPI, SSC I2C, 5x sensor interrupts, GPIOs, RTC clock, DC power signals
• Misc – 4x User LEDs, 2x LEDs for radios (BT and WLAN activity), 1x Power LED; power and volume buttons; force USB boot switch; 6-pin and 4-pin DIP switches for configuration.
• Power Supply – 12V/2.5A adapter via 4.75/1.75mm DC power jack
• Dimensions – 85 x 54 mm (96boards CE specifications)

On the software side, the development platform supports Linux, Ubuntu, and Robot Operating System (ROS) 2.0, with pre-integrated drivers for various cameras, sensors, and 5G connectivity. The kit also supports OpenCL and OpenGL ES APIs, as well as OpenCV for computer vision applications.

Typical applications would include autonomous mobile robots (AMR), delivery, inspection, inventory, industrial, collaborative robots, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for Industry 4.0 robotics use cases. The company also claims RB5 robotics development  “lays the foundation for the UAV Traffic Management (UTM) space”.

While Qualcomm QRB5165 Robotics processor is very similar to Snapdragon 865 with four Cortex-A77 cores, four Cortex-A55 cores and much of the same features, LinuxGizmos notes an additional Engine for Video Analytics (EVA) working with the ISP to handle computer vision workloads for up to seven concurrent camera inputs with simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), object detection and classification, autonomous navigation, and path planning in complex indoor and outdoor settings. QRB5165 is also equipped with a FIPS 140-2 certified Qualcomm Secure Processing Unit, and support –30 to 105°C temperatures range, as well as long term availability until 2029.

There are two kits for sale: Qualcomm RB5 Core Kit with the mainboard, the  QRB5165 SoM, a  power cord, a USB cable, and four standoffs going for $485, as well as Qualcomm RB5 Core Kit adding a Vision mezzanine with tracking & main cameras and related accessories for a total of $695. The Panasonic ToF camera and Intel RealSense are optional accessories selling for $65 and $199 respectively. You’ll find all those for pre-order on ThunderComm website. You’ll also find additional resources on Qualcomm’s product page and developer website.

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