Intel is working with US startup Eclypsium to reduce the vulnerability of firmware throughout an organisation, including its cloud links. This pairs security capabilities built into Intel silicon with advanced defences against firmware threats.
Intel Security Essentials provide a built-in foundation for improved security features and are available across Intel processor lines. The Eclypsium Platform, now generally available, builds upon Intel’s foundation by analyzing the system configuration and ensuring the latest firmware is deployed. With Eclypsium, the end user can see the status of their firmware patch levels, gain visibility into firmware misconfigurations, and validate the integrity of Intel systems as part of the supply chain, even through the cloud.
This can also help protect against 'Evil Maid' attacks against devices such as laptops or phones that are left unattended, for example in a hotel room or at an airport. This uses a USB-stick to compromise the firmware with a fake password prompt identical to the original. Once the password is input, the compromised firmware sends the password to the attacker and removes itself after a reboot. However, this nodes need the hacker to return to the device a second time to steal the now-accessible data.
“Security sensitive organizations need to be able to inspect these low-level technologies to look for signs of malicious activity,” said Window Snyder, Chief Software Security Officer and General Manager, Platform Security Division at Intel.
Firmware Visibility and Patch Management - Visibility of firmware versions across hardware components and centralised patch updates.
Protection From Supply Chain Attacks – Find firmware that has been compromised in the hardware supply chain even before deployment.
Protecting Cloud Infrastructure – Help protect cloud and bare-metal infrastructure from implants at the firmware level or software-level attacks that can spread to the firmware.
Verifying Device Integrity After Infection - Bring firmware security into the workflow to help ensure devices are clean at the firmware level before re-imaging.
This combines Murata’s communications modules and sensor technologies with the eSoftLink IoT platform (which leverages AI to provide end users with predictive consumption information), providing a seamless private and secure IoT package. This allows customers to start benefitting from the value-add of IoT in their operations.
Arm has signed a deal with China Unicom that will drive IoT adoption, bringing together the Pelion Device Management, Arm Mbed OS and China Unicom IoT platform.
The newly launched China Unicom IoT Platform brings a robust “edge-to-cloud” ecosystem, and securely connects 100 million devices across China. The solution provides device-to-data security and device management by building on top of Arm's Pelion Device Management service that can manage any device type and being tightly integrated with Mbed OS.
The deal allows Chinese enterprises and foreign companies operating in China to deploy and manage IoT applications at scale across verticals, including smart utility, smart cities, smart logistics and more.
Pelion Device Management allows organizations to securely and efficiently onboard, manage and update various types of IoT devices (from ultra-constrained to large gateways), throughout the device lifecycle. Pelion Device Management also provides enterprises with the flexibility to deploy in the public or private cloud, on-prem or in hybrid environments.
Mbed OS integrates all the essential components and mainstream standards necessary in the IoT, providing rich types of connectivity functions. The next release of Mbed OS next month will be one of the first IoT OS’s to have out-of-the-box compliance with PSA Certified Level 1 and PSA functional API Certification with support for multiple semiconductor vendor hardware, including Cypress, Nuvoton, NXP Semiconductors and ST.
Dialog Semiconductor has launched its latest wafer scale multicore Bluetooth low energy devices.
The SmartBond DA1469x family of four devices includes the first wireless microcontroller in production with a dedicated application processor based on the ARM Cortex-M33 processor. The M33 offers developers greater processing power for more intensive applications, such as high-end fitness trackers, advanced smart home devices and virtual reality game controllers.
The DA1469x integrated radio offers double the range compared to its predecessor together with an ARM Cortex-M0+ based software-programmable packet engine that implements protocols and provides full flexibility for wireless communication.
The devices provide up to 144 DMIPS of performance with 512 kBytes of RAM, memory protection, a floating-point unit, a dedicated crypto engine to enable end-to-end security and expandable memories, ensuring a wide range of advanced smart device applications can be implemented using the chipset family and supporting a range of key value-add interfaces to extend functionality even further.
Murata, Cypress Semiconductor and NXP Semiconductors have teamed up to provide IoT developers with mix-and-match wireless connectivity and processor modules that shorten development times.
“IoT customers still face significant design challenges in getting their connected products to market. This collaborative effort solves that challenge while enabling a broad range of new applications. Together with Cypress and NXP, we are providing out-of-box solutions with a wide range of i.MX processors and connectivity options to fit any IoT systems’ application requirements,” said Toshifumi Oida, Director, Communications Module Division at Murata.
The platform solutions give developers a broad range of scalable processing platforms including i.MX 6, i.MX 7 and i.MX 8 Series application processors and i.MX RT crossover processors. The Murata solutions provide devices with the flexibility of the easy-to-use M.2 connector.
The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity solutions include 1x1 802.11bgn, 802.11abgn and 802.11ac up to 2x2 802.11ac, as well as Bluetooth 5.0 support.
Developers have direct access to the necessary software in NXP’s Linux board support package and MCUXpresso SDK. The Wi-Fi evaluation kits will be available through NXP preferred partner Embedded Artists to support a diverse range of applications.
Design tool supplier Synopsys has teamed up with Palma Ceia SemiDesign to develop a full hardware/software design for LTE Cat NB1/NB2 IoT.
The design combines Palma Ceia's RF transceiver IP with Synopsys' DesignWare ARC EM9D Processor IP to deliver a complete low-power NB-IoT IP solution for both standalone or embedded modems. The collaboration provides designers with a ready-to-use NB-IoT solution, conforming to the latest LTE Release 14 standard and proven in 40nm process technology.
"NB-IoT is enabling the next wave of IoT connected devices that require lower energy consumption and higher system capacity," said Kevin Walsh, vice president of strategic marketing at Palma Ceia. "By collaborating with Synopsys to deliver a complete, integrated NB-IoT solution consisting of our RF IP in Synopsys' NB-IoT platform, we are enabling the design community to accelerate the integration of NB-IoT into their SoCs with less risk."
The NB-IoT modem solution includes the ultra-low power ARC EM9D processor, which combines RISC and DSP capabilities for a flexible architecture that can be quickly adapted for rapidly changing wireless standards. The EM9D's zero-latency XY memory architecture takes advantage of instruction level parallelism and single-cycle 16+16 MAC operations to deliver power-efficient data processing. The ARC EM9D processor is supported by the MetaWare Toolkit, which includes a rich library of DSP functions, allowing software engineers to rapidly implement algorithms from standard DSP building blocks.
The Palma Ceia LTE Cat NB1/NB2 Release 14 RF transceiver performs across all possible frequency bands for NB-IoT, including high band (1695 MHz to 2200 MHz) and low band (699 MHz to 960 MHz). The wide range of operation supports any band required for regions controlled by different network operators. Palma Ceia's RF transceiver IP is fully characterized in 40-nm processes.
"Wireless standards are evolving rapidly, driving the need for complete solutions to meet current LTE requirements while adapting to future 5G standards," said John Koeter, vice president of marketing for IP at Synopsys. "The combination of our ARC EM9D processor with Palma Ceia's RF transceiver will enable designers to implement a complete, low-power NB-IoT solution, accelerating time to market and reducing cost and risk."
The industrial-grade X-Ware IoT Platform from Express Logic has become an Arm PSA Certified product —currently the only such commercial product to earn this distinction.
PSA Certified is an IoT security evaluation scheme created by Arm to support customers in implementing the level of security needed for their devices. Its objective is to help build trust in the Internet of Things by making independent security testing the norm for IoT platforms. Express Logic worked with security evaluation lab BrightSight on the certification.
The X-Ware IoT Platform is built on the ThreadX RTOS, which has more than 6.2 billion deployments, and makes use of the small footprint and near wirespeed of Express Logic’s NetX Duo IPv4/IPv6 TCP/IP stack for IoT connectivity.
In addition to the Arm PSA certification, it has attained the highest levels of safety certifications including IEC 61508 SIL 4 (the highest, most dependable level as determined by IEC), IEC 62304 Class C, ISO 26262 ASIL D, EN 50128 SW-SIL 4, UL 60730-1 Annex H, CSA E60730-1 Annex H, IEC 60730-1 Annex H, IEC 60335-1 Annex R, and IEC 60335-1 Annex R, 1998. For those devices and applications that must do more than just connect to the IoT, the X-Ware IoT Platform offers the safety-certified FileX embedded FAT-32/exFAT file system, the GUIX GUI development and embedded runtime framework, and the USBX embedded host/device USB stack.
Arm’s PSA helps make security implementation easier and more affordable for developers to design into IoT devices. Arm’s PSA provides guidance, documentation, and deliverables through every phase of development, enabling developers to get their products to market faster and more cost-effectively.
Octavo Systems has launched its first System-in-Package (SiP) product based on the new STM32MP1 embedded Linux microprocessor from STMicroelectronics.
The OSD32MP1 integrates the STM32MP1, DDR, PMIC, EEPROM, Oscillators, and Passives into a single BGA package that is 18mm X 18mm.
At only 18mm on a side, the OSD32MP1 packs an entire STM32MP1 system in a package the same size as the processor itself saving designers up to 64% in PCB area.
The STM32MP1 contains two Arm Cortex-A7 microprocessors along with an Arm Cortex-M4 real time microcontroller, making it a great fit for remote sensors, HMI displays, motor control applications, medical systems, and IoT end points. The integration provided by the OSD32MP1 SiP makes the solution suitable for any application needing a versatile applications processor in a small package.
The SIP integration allows users to take advantage of a full microprocessor without the increase in complexity that typically comes from routing DDR and complex power management. The ability to reuse firmware and the elimination of complexity makes the OSD32MP1 the easiest path for designers to move from a microcontroller to Linux.
"The continued push of IoT and the demand for more data has required many applications to migrate from an existing microcontroller design to one based on a microprocessor running Linux. There are usually two major hurdles that prevent this from being an easy transition; porting their application, and complicated hardware designs," said Greg Sheridan, Marketing Manager at Octavo Systems. "Integrating the new STM32MP1 into the OSD32MP1 removes these roadblocks, greatly reducing the effort required to migrate from a microcontroller to a microprocessor running Linux."
Beyond simplifying the design process, the OSD32MP1 reduces the cost of PCBs by needing less pace and less complicated manufacturing processes, like Laser Vias or Via-in-Pad. The OSD32MP1 also simplifies the task of sourcing components by integrating over 100 devices from multiple vendors into a single component.
"Having ST ask us to be one of their partners at launch really validates our vision for the future of electronics design. Designers will demand more integrated solutions to start to develop their unique applications faster rather than spend time on tedious tasks that don't differentiate their product," adds Gene Frantz, CTO Octavo Systems. "System-in-Package is the solution to provide this tremendous level of integration."
Design resources for the OSD32MP1 are available today on the Octavo Systems website. Samples will be available in Q3 with full production scheduled for Q4. "Pricing is still being finalized and will be in-line with the cost of an equivalent system designed with discrete components," said Greg.
STMicroelectronics has launched a multicore processor with ARM Cortex-A and -M cores and Linux support for Industrial, Consumer, Smart Home, Health and Wellness applications.
The STM32MP1 series supports OpenSTLinux as a mainlined, open-source Linux distribution to extend the STM32 family. With this combination of MPU and software, ST has assembled all the pieces to match the product supply requirements of many industrial and professional applications and the STM32MP1 is included in ST’s rolling 10-years longevity commitment.
The Cortex-A cores running Linux allows standard high level software such as graphics for user interfaces to be used, while the -M cores provide real time control and low power operation.
For example, by stopping Cortex-A7 execution and running only from the more efficient Cortex-M4, power can typically be reduced to 25%. From this mode, going to Standby further cuts power by 2.5k times – while still supporting the resumption of Linux execution in 1 to 3 seconds, depending on the application.
The STM32MP1 embeds a 3D Graphics Processor Unit (GPU) to support Human Machine Interface (HMI) displays. It also supports a wide range of external DDR SDRAM and Flash Memories. Moreover, the STM32MP1 embeds a large set of peripherals that can be seamlessly allocated either to Cortex-A / Linux or Cortex-M / Real-time activities. The STM32MP1 series are available in a range of BGA packages to support the lowest PCB cost structure and use the smallest board space.
The STM32MP1 series comprise dual Arm Cortex-A7 application processor cores running at 650MHz and a high-performance Arm Cortex-M4 microcontroller core running at 209MHz. The STM32MP1 supports cost-efficient and DDR SDRAMs, including DDR3, DDR3L, LPDDR2, LPDDR3 32/16-bit at 533MHz, which prevents performance bottlenecks and bandwidth issues on MPU systems. On top of this, the STM32MP1 supports a wide range of Flash products: eMMC, SD card, SLC NAND, SPI NAND and Quad-SPI NOR Flashes.
The 3D Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) provides for advanced HMI development, based on OpenGL® ES 2.0 interface and native support for Linux and various application frameworks, including Android Qt. The STM32MP1 supports 24-bit parallel RGB displays up to WXGA at 60fps and MIPI® DSI with 2 data lanes running at 1Gbps.
This 3D graphics processor will enable equipment such as industrial control panels to enhance user experiences. Brian Edmond, President of Crank Software, which produces the Storyboard™ user-interface tool suite, commented, “The STM32MP1 platform strengthens ST’s solution and aligns with Storyboard’s industry-leading scalability. The powerful 3D GPU from Vivante® lets Storyboard users create the rich graphical experiences needed in today's embedded markets."
In order to assure Customer code is fully trusted, the STM32MP1 Series embeds hardware security features that include TrustZone, cryptography, hash, Secure Boot, anti-tamper pins, and a real-time clock.
The STM32MP1 also leverages advanced IPs from STM32 MCUs. STM32MP1 has 37x communication interfaces, such as 3x USB2.0 including 2x High-Speed, 1x Gigabit Ethernet GMAC, 2x CAN FD and standard I²C, UARTs and SPIs. It also comes with a range of analog peripherals including 2x 16b ADCs, 2x 12b DACs and On-chip LDOs. The STM32MP1 supports 29x timers and 3x watchdogs. Depending on packages, it can also support up to 176 GPIOs.
ST completes the chipset with the STPMIC1, a dedicated Power-Management IC (PMIC) that integrates four DC/DC buck converters, six LDOs, a DC/DC boost converter, and USB VBUS and general-purpose power switches, creating a space and BOM savings to supply all required power rails for the STM32MP1 and for other components on the board. Using power-consumption optimization, the STPMIC1 is an ideal companion chip for the STM32MP1 Series in battery-powered applications.
To accelerate development, ST is demonstrating its commitment to software development with the release of OpenSTLinux Distribution as a mainlined open-source Linux distribution. OpenSTLinux has already been reviewed and accepted by the Linux community: Linux Foundation, Yocto project and Linaro. The distribution contains all the essential building blocks for running software on the application-processor cores.
The OpenSTLinux Distribution supports development on the STM32MP1’s Cortex-A7 cores and contains important elements that include Linux BSP, kernel, drivers, boot chain, and secure OS (OP-TEE: Trusted Execution Environment).
Enhanced STM32Cube tools, specially upgraded from the STM32Cube package for Cortex-M microcontrollers, features all necessary characteristics – and more -- to accelerate microprocessor development using Arm Cortex-A-core MPUs. ST’s solution simplifies setting up MPU projects and configuring the on-chip resources.
FPGA designer Achronix has launched a partner programme for EDA tools, software, and IP vendors with solutions and services for its Speedster FPGAs, Speedchip chiplet technology, and Speedcore eFPGA custom IP-block technology.
The programme connects Achronix’s partners with the company’s customers to provide better access to developers who are creating designs based on Achronix’s technologies, or considering the use of Achronix’s programmable silicon and IP technologies.
Partners have the ability to promote their company and proven solutions on their own, individual partner pages located on the Achronix.com website.
Achronix’s ecosystem partners augment Achronix’s own ACE design tools and IP products with expert design support for Achronix-specific, FPGA-based development to shorten design cycles for complex electronic systems and accelerate time to market. Achronix offerings include programmable FPGA fabrics, discrete high-performance and high-density FPGAs with hardwired system-level blocks, datacentre and HPC hardware accelerator boards, and best-in-class EDA software supporting all Achronix products.
Innophase has launched a single chip multiprotocol transceiver for the Internet of Things (IoT) with what the company claims is the industry's lowest power consumption.
The Talaria TWO platform combines the transceiver, MAC/PHY, digital power amplifier and an embedded ARM processor for battery-based IoT applications. Operating with a Delivery Traffic Indication Map (DTIM) every third frame (DTIM3), the chip uses half the power of the leading low power Wi-Fi chips, says the company.
The chip actively manages multiprotocol coexistence for 802.11b/g/n WiFi and BLE 5.0 for demanding edge-of-network applications. Initial customer products developed using the Talaria TWO wireless platform have shown battery life improvements of more than 50% versus competitive solutions.
The Talaria TWO platform uses InnoPhase’s PolaRFusion radio architecture, which processes radio signals using polar coordinates rather than traditional IQ coordinates. This digitally-intensive radio solution dramatically reduces the amount of power required to transmit, process, and receive wireless information using industry standard wireless protocols. It achieves this by moving most of the radio signal processing from power-hungry analogue circuits, found in today’s IQ-architecture wireless solutions, into power and size efficient digital logic.
Customers are now sampling the extreme low power Talaria TWO wireless platform with full commercial availability and certification slated for mid-2019.
Open source specialist Arduino has launched an IoT Cloud as part of its professional IoT strategy.
The cloud capability is aimed at embedded developers and system integrators as well as Arduio's more traditional maker hobbyists as an easy-to-use Internet of Things application platform.
The IoT Cloud includes secure provision, connection and authentication of devices in the field and ensures all data transmitted between the device and Arduino’s cloud is confidential and tamper-proof. Client authentication (X.509 certificates) is adopted for asymmetric-key based authentication, while Transport Layer Security (TLS) is used for securing all traffic to and from IoT Cloud.
www.arduino.cc/en/IoT/HomePage or create.arduino.cc/iot to download.