Flexible Microchip: Arm launches plastic microchip

Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept that holds powers of transition. With a set of interconnected devices IoT enables data exchange via embedded sensors and softwares. IoT has enabled users to connect kitchen appliances, monitors, CCTV cameras through a single network. IoT is paving the way for Smart Agriculture, Smart Cities, Smart Homes and Automated cars. 

 

IoT examples can be tracked down in objects of everyday interest. Arm, the company leading computing and data science revolutions, has launched an experimental plastic microchip. Being different from its counterparts this microchip uses plastic instead of silicon. Plastic based microchips will take IoT to the next level of advancement. 

 

Arm’s unique design approach will enable the microchip to learn from running neural networks (NNs). It will facilitate development of low cost and customizable smart systems. These microchips are environment friendly as they consume low power. 

 

This is built in collaboration with PragmaticIC. This 32 bit plastic chip is different from previous semiconductor designs. Arm’s research for the development of plastic based microchips began in the year 2013. Plastic arm ultra minimalist Cortex M0 based SoC has 128 bytes of RAM and 456 bytes of ROM. 

 

Cortex M0 CPU core is the low power part of the microchip. Chip is 60 square millimeters in size with 56,340 components and 18000 components. 

 

(Must Check: What is IoT? - Learn everything about the Internet of Things)

 

According to Extreme Tech Microchip needs  21 milliwatts of power, which is high for the M0, but future versions could be efficient enough for IoT and wearable applications where it’s not feasible to charge devices frequently or keep them connected to power. Also, you can fold it in half while all this is going on.

 

This flexible piece of electronics is complex in state. Low cost microprocessors will enable multiple companies to realize the full potential of smart sensors. Products built using this technology smart lifestyle tracking, they will be used in the development of health assessment systems.