Qualcomm Announces 5G and AI Robotics Platform

Qualcomm announced on Wednesday the Robotics 5G platform (RB5), a slew of hardware, software, and development tools tailored for robotics.

RB5 is the “world’s first” 5G and AI enabled robotics platform, according to Qualcomm, which aims to supply manufacturers with the tools to build next generation devices.

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The platform includes Qualcomm’s customized GRB5165 robotics processor, the 5^th generation AI Engine capable of delivering 15 tera operations per second, the Hexagon Tensor Accelerator, and the Spectra 480 image signal processor able to take 200-megapixel photos and 4K HDR video at 120fps.  

Qualcomm says this is the most complete robotics package on the market, with a comprehensive development kit that offers support for Linux, Ubuntu and Robot Operating System 2.0, alongside support OpenCL, OpenGLES, and OpenCV.

The integration of on-board AI is a boon for manufacturers of small robots, which may require data to be kept on the device. 5G is seen as a necessity for autonomous drones and delivery robots to work adequately in urban areas.  

“Qualcomm is the world’s leading wireless technology innovator with a strong foundation in AI, mobile computing and connectivity,” said Dev Singh, senior director of business development at Qualcomm.

“By applying its deep-rooted mobile systems expertise to the robotics industry, Qualcomm is helping to enable the creation of more powerful, secure, and intelligent robots than ever before.”

The RB5 platform could also be utilized by enterprises exploring Industry 4.0 technologies, such as machine maintenance, collaborative robots, and inventory management.

“The new Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform is a game changer for drone and autonomous robotics,” said Lorenz Meier, CEO of Dronecode.