The Mikron MIK32 is a 32-bit RISC-V microcontroller made in Russia with features similar to an STMicro STM32L0 Cortex-M0+ MCU that shows how RISC-V open-source architecture can help lower the barrier to entry, and let more companies design their own chips.
The MIK32 microcontroller features CPU IP from Syntacore based in Saint Petersburg following the RV32IMC profile. Clocked at 32 MHz, the MCU comes with I2C, UART, SPI, ADC, DAC interfaces, as well as various timers, an interrupt controller, and more.
Mikron MIK32 specifications:
- CPU Core – 32-bit RISC-V up to 32 MHz with 32 registers, embedded multiplier, debugger (TAP controller and JTAG interface), and interrupt controller
- Memory & Storage – 256 bytes OTP ROM, 16KB RAM, 8KB EEPROM
- Interfaces
- Storage I/F – SPI, Dual-SPI, Quad-SPI interfaces for NOR and NAND flash devices
- 4-channel DMA controller supporting low-power modes
- 2x I2C, 2x UART with synchronous mode support, 2x SPI
- 12-bit 8-channel ADC up to 1 MHz
- 12-bit 2-channel DAC up to 1 MHz
- 5V-tolerant digital I/O
- 2x PVD (Programmable Voltage Detectors)
- Clock control unit
- Interrupt controller – Supports 32 interrupts from ADC, SPI, I2C, UART, timers, voltage detectors,
- Timers – 16-bit (3x) and 32-bit (2x) multifunctional timers supporting PWM, Capture/Compare; watchdog timer
- Encryption – CRC calculation unit, Crypto accelerator with AES 128 support
- Misc – RTC @ 32.768 KHz, embedded temperature sensor
- Power management
- 3.3V +/- 10% input voltage
- Power control unit supporting different power modes, power-down of main domain, and/or clocking of separate units
- Brown-out detector
- Temperature Range – -40… +85°C
- Package – 64 QFN; die-size 4.365 x 4.365 mm
Mikron also designed a development board with a MIK32 module, multiple relays, buttons, DIP configuration switches, RS232/RS485, and supports for four expansion boards adding Bluetooth, WiFi, GSM, NB-IoT, Zigbee, RFID, and/or Ethernet to the board.
Mikron MIK32 is said to be suitable for gas/water meters and industrial sensors, healthcare and fitness equipment, remote control and user interfaces, as well as PC peripherals, gaming, and GPS equipment.
The MIK32 RISC-V MCU is sold for 450 roubles or about $6, but I’m not sure if it is unit price or in quantities. The company asks interested parties to contact them to purchase the microcontroller or development board. More information can be found on the company’s website. Everything is in Russian, except for a product sheet in English with basic specifications.
Via Florian Woh
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Its good to have more RISC-V cpu’s, but you can get a stm that is faster for 1$, why would anyone then pay 6$ for this?
Russia state agencies will. The government there is desperately trying to reinstate the Iron Curtain and recently passes legislation, according to which in state-governed tenders all offers of foreign goods must be canceled, if even one locally produced offer is present, Sounds bonkers, I know, but it is what it is.
And I as citizen fully support this approach. Microcontrollers used in a lot of critical places and can be manufactured locally even with old lithography which Russia have.
“And I, as a citizen” completely disagree with you, paid trolls who leave similar comments everywhere
What exactly do you disagree with? With the fact that microcontrollers are used in a lot of critical places? Or with that Russia needs to have its own production of microcontrollers?
P.S. Do you have evidence to call him a paid troll?
He just disagree. With everything.
If “he” disagree with somebody opinion – “he” call them “paid trolls”. No evidence required.
From words people like him said I conclude what Russia must produce CPU fatser than Intel/AMD or not even try anything at all ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯
Why don’t you consider yourself a troll? it works both ways… in fact, whoever starts pointing the finger first is the real troll (according to this definition)…
Там следующая новость про STM32H725A. Сравнивать этот паРашинский высер тут даже не с чем, разве что с утонувшим байкалом. Гордится своим гавном – это у русских в крови
Nobody compares MIK32 with STM32H725A. There are different microcontrollers with different capabilities and for different applications. You can find out about this if you read this site carefully.
What you described is an attempt to provide the basis for Russia’s technological security, an attempt to improve the microelectronic industry, not a new Iron Curtain. I do not want to go deep into politics, but if you look at events on a global scale, you will understand the relevance of this for any large state.
P.S. Private companies can safely use chips which not from Russia.
well, this is the West trying to put up a new iron curtain, so Russia is trying to reduce its dependence
Цена по запросу*
*в зависимости от партии и условий поставки
That means the price is available on request and depends on amount.
I got the price on the Twitter thread linked at the end of the article
Will they sell me that die bonded directly to a PCB without epoxy? That’s something I want for my collection.
When I check the ordering page the number “20,000” showed up. I think it’s the minimum order quantity. So if you can order 20,000 pieces, I’m sure they’ll oblige 🙂
Should that be ‘at’?
Thanks for the heads up about this chip, but it doesn’t look like it’ll get outside of Russian made devices for the Russian market (and likely government and military at that). Still, interesting to see from a ‘where all is RISC-V showing up’ standpoint.
Plenty of RISC V on places like Aliexpress, just type in RISC V in Aliexpress search bar.
That wasn’t even remotely related to what I said.
Yes it was, as a search of a sales site shows many RISC V hardware on sale from different manufacturers. RISC V showing up.
” Still, interesting to see from a ‘where all is RISC-V showing up’ standpoint. “
I wasn’t talking about where to buy them, I was talking about where they are being *used*.
“Yes it was, as a search of a sales site shows many RISC V hardware on sale from different manufacturers. RISC V showing up.”
It really wasn’t and either way there isn’t much RISC V stuff on aliexpress. Sure there are tons of listings but it’s the same boards with the 3 or 4 known RISC V chips on them.
Yes it was, from the results you can see, whats available to actually buy, by people wanting single digit units. Also you a idea of what products are popular with buyers.
Interestingly, english data sheet only mention “AES ecryption” but in russian I found:
Symmetric cryptography accelerator, implements three specialized
transformations:
1. AES128, FIPS 197 128-bit block cipher, with a 128-bit key;
2. “Magma”, GOST 34.12-2015 64-bit block cipher;
3. “Grasshopper”, GOST 34.12-2015 128-bit block cipher;
4. Supports block concatenation modes (ECB, CBC, CTR);
Looks like 2&3 is key “selling points” as those are national encryptions standards. Screenshot of this block from russian data-sheet in attach.
Russian hackers dream
Dream bigger, brave hackers.
Diversity, however it seems that the main customer is not the commodity market, but the organisations related to the state. In long term they way to avoid any embargo. Interesting would be to get info on the temperature range?
Maybe there is already variant for (extended temp range and / or) harsh environment.
An exposed die lead-bonded to a castellated piece of FR4 then conformally clear-coated. Oh yeah, point your camera flash or laser pointer at it and have a bit-flip-fest.
Pretty sure that’s just a ‘product shot’ for promotional purposes. Please tell me they have the sense to not ship that. Don’t be RPi foundation level stupid…..
Or a Russian Ethan Hunt’s briefing.
mikron? Micron will sue them if they dare step out of Russia
Sue for what? Russian “company” called Микрон (which is transliterated as mikron) established in 1964 while western counterpart 1978.
Actually as common thing in USSR Микрон were factory with R&D facility called НИИМЭ – Science Research Institue of Molecular Electronics.
And in fact they have share 70% of all exported microelectronics from Russia.
… I guess this isn’t an open source design?
It’s based on Syntacore scr1 core – it’s open source core.
This is actually going to be a very good universal embedded MCU with only 3 real downsides:
1) No CAN and USB interfaces built in. The first one is quite popular in automotive and railroad industries and the last one is very desirable for external control and firmware updates.
2) Only 8k of internal flash memory. You can hook up an external QuadSPI memory if your program does not fit and you need more but the memory is not very cheap or popular so it kinda defeats the purpose and regular SPI Flash chips are going to be too slow even for the modest 32MHz clock speed of the RISC-V core.
3) Limited pin count – currently it is expected to only be one option with 64 pins.
So the thing is clearly not going to fit all the needs, and it is the first attempt of the company to design and manufacture a modern general purpose MCU after all, but it is expected to be very cheap (especially by russian standards) and quite robust. The first fully packed samples are expected to arrive closer to the end of autumn so we shall definitely wait and see when it actually becomes available apart from the limited batch of the bare die on a PCB engineering samples shown on the photo.
Thanks for the update. I can also see they have a small breadboard compatible development board now, as well as some code (MIK32 configurator) hosted on Github: https://github.com/iamcsharper/iamcsharper.github.io.
Микроконтроллер MIK32 вполне себе годится для российского аналога Arduino. А аналог STM32 есть – и это Миландр.