Advanced system development platform for the network edge

Lattice Semiconductor has announced availability of a new ECP5-based development platform to accelerate system design of communications and industrial applications at the network edge, including HetNet small cells, industrial IoT gateways, and IP cameras. Mikroprojekt’s Kondor AX development platform features Lattice’s ECP5 device, a low power, small form factor FPGA with flexible interface connectivity and high-performance DSP for image filtering and data analytics, and a versatile discrete CPU with Linux OS support for system control. Commenting, Deepak Boppana, director, product marketing, Lattice Semiconductor, said: “There is a growing need for smart connectivity and computing at the network edge, from HetNet small cells, microservers, and millimetre wave backhaul applications in communications, to IP video surveillance cameras, HMI displays, and IoT gateways in the industrial market. System designers of such applications are typically challenged with stringent power consumption, form factor, and cost requirements. The Kondor AX development platform featuring Lattice’s low power, small form factor ECP5 FPGA enables designers to easily implement programmable connectivity and compute acceleration in these applications.” The ECP5 FPGA supports many popular interface standards, including CPRI, JESD204B and PCI Express. To facilitate connecting the platform to networks, displays, and other peripherals, the platform features several standard interfaces like HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, USB OTG, FMC, SFP, LVDS and GPIO. The development platform also bundles a Linux-based operating system with a large existing base of applications and software libraries, says the company. “We are excited to partner with Lattice to deliver an advanced development platform that meets connectivity requirements for emerging applications such as HetNet and IoT,” said Damir Jezic, managing director at Mikroprojekt. “By combining Lattice’s robust ECP5 FPGA with support for a broad set of external interfaces, the Kondor AX platform will enable our customers to accelerate their network edge system design.”