MIPS, GlobalFoundries’ (GF) processor company, has joined RISC-V International as a Premier member, and its CTO, Yankin Tanurhan, has been named vice chair of the organization’s board. The move strengthens the participation of MIPS and GF in developing open standards for physical AI systems built for automotive, robotics, aerospace, and other devices that need to process data and act in real time.
MIPS and RISC-V in 20 seconds
- MIPS joins RISC-V International as a Premier member.
- Yankin Tanurhan, MIPS’ CTO, becomes vice chair of the board.
- The company takes part in groups covering automotive, functional safety, cryptography, vector extensions, and documentation.
- The stated goal is to advance physical AI platforms built on open standards.
- MIPS combines RISC-V IP, software tools, and manufacturing backed by GlobalFoundries.
MIPS’ entry into RISC-V International expands the role the company wants to play around the open RISC-V architecture. The organization brings together companies and entities working on standards for an instruction set architecture that can serve as the basis for different processor designs.
MIPS, now part of GlobalFoundries’ structure, frames its activity around systems in which artificial intelligence moves out of data centers and into devices capable of sensing their surroundings, processing information, and acting on it. That scenario spans vehicles, robots, industrial systems, aerospace equipment, and embedded devices.
MIPS Expands Its Role in RISC-V Standards
The company already takes part in several RISC-V International committees, working groups, and special interest groups, including those dedicated to automotive, functional safety, cryptography, vector extensions, and documentation.
Functional safety carries particular weight in sectors such as automotive and aerospace, where processors must operate within defined safety and reliability requirements. MIPS’ participation in these groups lets it help shape the standards that affect these applications.
The company’s approach combines that involvement in open standards with its work developing processor intellectual property. MIPS argues that customers need to know in advance how their software will behave on the hardware they ultimately use.
To that end, the company offers processor modeling and development tools built around a software-centric workflow. The goal is to analyze workloads before the silicon design is finalized and use that information to tune software and hardware together.
The approach is especially relevant for embedded systems, where power, performance, security, and size constraints can differ from those found in a data center.
From Open Architecture to GF-Manufactured Silicon
The relationship between MIPS and GlobalFoundries adds another dimension to the project. MIPS contributes RISC-V-based processor IP, software tools, and platforms for specific applications, while GF provides manufacturing, packaging, and production technologies.
According to the company, its portfolio spans everything from processor IP to virtual platforms and custom silicon for specific applications. The combination aims to give customers a path that runs from processor design and software evaluation through to chip manufacturing.
MIPS has also integrated with the ARC processor solutions that GlobalFoundries acquired from Synopsys. The company now presents the combined MIPS and ARC lineup as a portfolio aimed at automotive, aerospace, robotics, Internet of Things, and embedded system markets.
The August announcement ties this strategy to so-called physical AI. The concept covers systems that combine sensors, computing, control, and software to interpret their surroundings, make decisions, and carry out actions. In these systems, processing cannot rely solely on remote infrastructure, since certain tasks require an immediate response and must operate within strict power and safety limits.
MIPS believes RISC-V can provide an open foundation for adapting processors to different workloads. The company also highlights the ability to modify the architecture and pair it with development tools and specific manufacturing technologies.
GlobalFoundries’ Role in RISC-V
MIPS’ new status as a Premier member also strengthens GlobalFoundries’ presence within the RISC-V ecosystem. The semiconductor manufacturer acquired MIPS in 2021 and later added the ARC processor solutions to its portfolio.
Andrea Gallo, CEO of RISC-V International, said that GF and MIPS’ experience in RISC-V can contribute to the development of real-time, high-performance platforms. His remarks are part of MIPS’ announcement and reflect the organization’s stance on the company’s inclusion.
Ed Wilford, senior research director at Omdia, for his part described the addition of MIPS and GF as an expansion of the foundry’s role within RISC-V. In his assessment, the combination of MIPS, ARC, and GlobalFoundries could give customers a RISC-V-based path from design through to manufacturing.
That last assessment comes from Omdia and does not amount to an independent account of commercial results already achieved by MIPS or GlobalFoundries. The announcement also provides no figures on customers, chip shipment volumes, or revenue tied to these platforms.
The company does say it works with original equipment manufacturers and integrators in the automotive, aerospace, robotics, and embedded computing sectors. Its stated goal is to deliver physical AI platforms built around open standards, processor IP, software tools, and GlobalFoundries’ manufacturing technologies.
The move comes as the RISC-V architecture expands its presence across different segments of the semiconductor market. For MIPS, taking part in defining standards lets it connect the architecture’s development with concrete requirements around safety, automotive, cryptography, and vector computing.
The announcement does not imply that a specific physical AI standard has already been finalized, nor that MIPS’ platforms are generally available across all these markets. The company places its work within RISC-V International’s groups and programs and presents the collaboration as part of a long-term development strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has MIPS announced?
MIPS has joined RISC-V International as a Premier member. Its CTO, Yankin Tanurhan, has also been named vice chair of the organization’s board.
What is the relationship between MIPS and GlobalFoundries?
MIPS is part of GlobalFoundries and develops processor IP, software tools, and platforms based on RISC-V. GF provides semiconductor manufacturing, packaging, and production technologies.
What is physical AI?
Physical AI refers to systems that combine sensing, computing, control, and software to interpret their environment, make decisions, and act on them. The concept applies to sectors such as automotive, robotics, industry, and aerospace.
Which RISC-V groups does MIPS take part in?
MIPS takes part in groups related to automotive, functional safety, cryptography, vector computing, and documentation, along with other RISC-V International committees and working groups.
via: businesswire
