STM32N6 | ST's first high-performance MCU with AI acceleration
STM32N6 | ST's first high-performance MCU with AI acceleration
Blog Article
The STMicroelectronics STM32 N6 high-performance microcontroller features an Arm® Cortex®-M55 running at 800 MHz. The STMicroelectronics STM32 N6 MCU introduces Arm Helium vector processing technology for DSP functions and is equipped with the ST Neural-ART accelerator™, an internal NPU designed for energy-efficient edge AI applications. With a clock speed of 1GHz and up to 600 GOPS, it supports real-time neural network inference for computer vision and audio tasks. The MIPI CSI 2 interface and image signal processing ensure broad camera compatibility, while the H.264 encoder, JPEG codec, and NeoChrom™ accelerator for graphics can be deployed in feature-rich products.
The STM32N6, the first high-performance microcontroller with AI acceleration from STMicroelectronics (ST), redefines microcontroller performance and drives innovation in industrial and consumer applications.
Core Advantages
Powerful AI computing power: The integrated 600 GOPS dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) is 600 times higher than the 1 GOPS NN peak processing power of the STM32H7, and the power consumption is 3 TOPS/W. Combined with the 800 MHz Arm® Cortex®-M55 core, neural network calculations can be efficiently run on the MCU, with the advantages of small size, low power consumption, low cost, low bill of materials (BOM) and fast startup/wake-up.
Excellent graphics and multimedia functions: Equipped with a 2.5D graphics accelerator (such as NeoChrom GPU) to improve graphics performance, support a variety of graphics operations and special effects, and reduce the CPU burden; the multimedia unit supports H.264 encoding at 1080p15 and 720p30, and can be streamed in real time via USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi.
Reliable security performance: Arm® TrustZone® technology is used to isolate the Cortex®-M55 core and NPU processes, and the hardware-accelerated encryption engine ensures data security. It has functions such as secure boot, secure real-time clock, and simulated true random number generator. It complies with target certifications such as SESIP3 and PSA L3 and supports multi-tenant mode.
Application areas: Covering drone flight and landing, smart industrial anomaly detection, smart home event detection, smart agricultural animal health monitoring, personal health care body measurement, smart control of white appliances, automotive environmental perception, smart building automation, robot collision detection, personal electronic devices and wearable devices.
Product features
Memory and interface: It has 4.2 Mbytes of embedded RAM and supports fast external memory interfaces (Hexa - SPI, Octo - SPI, FMC) with speeds up to 800 Mbytes/s. It also has multiple communication interfaces, such as 3x CAN FD, 2x USB 2.0 D/H HS + HS PHY, etc.
Other features: including computer vision pipeline (including parallel and MIPI CSI-2 camera module interfaces, dedicated image processor ISP), timer/control unit (such as 2x 16-bit motor control PWM, etc.), and system 96-bit unique ID, watchdog, cyclic redundancy check (CRC), etc.
Development support: Provides development tools such as NUCLEO-N657X0-Q, STM32N6570-DK, as well as STM32Cube framework related tools and software, as well as online development tools such as ST Edge AI Suite, supporting operations such as model optimization and benchmarking, and providing source code for multiple application examples.
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Features
Performance
Helium - M-Profile Vector Extension (MVE) introduces up to ~150 instructions designed to quickly execute advanced DSP and machine learning code
ST Neural-ART accelerator optimized for intensive AI algorithms, clocked at 1GHz, delivers 600 GOPS, 3 TOPS on average, with energy efficiency
Memory
Flashless configuration 4.2MB contiguous embedded RAM
Fast serial I/F for external memory provides a low pin count, cost-effective way to access external RAM or flash via 8-bit or 16-bit interface
Flexible memory controller (PSRAM, SDRAM, NOR, NAND)
Extended multimedia capabilities
Chrom-ART™ Accelerator 2D graphics acceleration
Chrom-GRC™ Graphics Resource Cutter for non-square displays
NeoChrom Accelerator 2.5D acceleration for advanced drawing, perspective correction and texture mapping
H.264 encoder 720p/1080p, 30fps
JPEG hardware accelerator compression and decompression, high-quality motion JPEG video playback
Dedicated image signal processor (ISP) that can generate three different outputs from the same input, multiple camera interfaces, MIPI CSI-2, dual-channel interface, 16-bit parallel interface, STM32-ISP-IQTune for managing ISP tuning
Security
Target SESIP Level 3 and PSA Level 3 certification
TrustZone ®
Anti-side-channel AES/PKA and Fast AES/ SHA
RIF Tenant-aware Firewall
Enable Edge AI use cases on MCU
Run complex NN models with higher accuracy
Support real-time processing
Process higher resolution images/higher sampling frequency
Run different NN models in parallel
Enhanced UX/HMI
Rich and responsive graphics
Enable various interaction possibilities
Advanced video and multimedia applications
Stream video via USB/Ethernet/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth^®^
Video recording
Seamlessly integrated in the STM32 ecosystem
Supported by available Edge AI tools, resources and case studies
Supports TouchGFX
Highly secure and compliant with safety regulations
Applications
Drones
Smart Industry
Smart Home
Smart Agriculture
Personal Healthcare
Automotive
Smart Buildings
Robotics
Personal Electronics
STM32N6570-DK Discovery Kit
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The STM32 N6570-DK Discovery Kit is a development platform for the STM32 N657 X 0 H3 Q microcontroller based on the Arm® Cortex®-M55. STMicroelectronics STM32 N6570-DK includes hardware features for evaluating peripherals such as USB Type-C™, USB-SPI Flash, Hexadeca-SPI PSRAM, Ethernet, camera, LCD, microSD™, audio codec, digital microphone, ADC, user buttons, and flexible expansion connectors. Four connectors enable easy expansion of wireless connectivity, analog solutions, and sensors. *Attachment: Discovery kit with STM32N657X0 MCU.pdf
Features
STM32 N657 X 0 H3Q Arm Cortex-M55-based microcontroller with ST Neural-ART accelerator, H264 encoder, NeoChrom 2.5D GPU and 4.2MB continuous SRAM in VFBGA 264 package
5" LCD module with capacitive touch screen
USB Type-C with USB 2.0 HS interface, Dual Function Power (DRP)
USB Type-A with USB 2.0 HS interface, host, 0.5A max
1 Gigabit Ethernet with TSN (Time Sensitive Networking) compliant with IEEE-802.3 - 2002 standard
SAI audio codec
One MEMS digital microphone
1 Gbit Octo-SPI flash
256-Mbit Hexadeca-SPI PSRAM
User, tamper and reset buttons
ST-LINK-V3 on board EC debugger/programmer with USB re-enumeration, virtual COM port and debug port
Handled by STM32 CubeMonitor-UCPD (STM32 CubeMonUCPD) software tool
Two user indicators
Board connectors
USB Type-C
USB Type-a
Ethernet RJ45
Camera module
microSD card
LCD
Stereo headphone jack, including analog microphone input
Audio MEMS daughter board expansion connector
Arduino ^®^ Uno R3 expansion connector
STMod+ expansion connector
Comprehensive free software libraries and examples available for the STM32CubeN6 MCU package
Supports a wide choice of integrated development environments (IDEs), including IAR Embedded Development Environment ^®^ , MDK-ARM and STM32 CubeIDE
NUCLEO-N657 X 0-Q STM32 Nucleo-144 development board
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STMicroelectronics NUCLEO-N657 X 0-Q STM32 The Nucleo-144 development board is a versatile platform for prototyping and concept exploration. The STM32 microcontroller powers the STMicroelectronics NUCLEO-N657 X 0-Q STM32 and offers various performance and power optimization options. The board reduces power consumption when using an internal or external SMPS in run mode. It includes an ARDUINO® Uno V3-compatible ST Zio connector and ST morpho headers for seamless expansion via dedicated shields. Integration with the ST-LINK debugger/programmer eliminates the need for a separate probe. In addition, the board comes with comprehensive free software libraries and examples via the STM32 Cube MCU package.
*Attachment: STM32 Nucleo-144 boards.pdf
Features
Common features
STM32 microcontrollers in LQFP144, TFBGA225 or VFBGA264 packages
Three user indicators
One user button and one reset button
32.768 kHz crystal
Board connectors include SWD, ST morpho expansion connector
Flexible power supply options with ST-LINK USB V bus, USB connector or external power supply
Comprehensive free software libraries and examples available with STM32Cube MCU package
Supports a wide choice of integrated development environments (IDEs), including IAR Embedded Development Environment ^®^, MDK-ARM and STM32 CubeIDE
Board features
External or internal SMPS to generate V core logic supply
Ethernet compliant with IEEE-802.3-2002
USB device only, USB OTG full speed or SNK/UFP
Arduino ^®^ Uno V3 connector or ST Zio expansion connector, including ARDUINO ^®^ Uno V3 board connector
Camera module FPC
MIPI20-compliant connector with tracking signals
USB with Micro-AB or USB Type-C™
Ethernet RJ45
Onboard ST-LINK (STLINK/V2-1, STLINK-V3 E or STLINK-V3 EC) debugger/programmer with USB re-enumeration: mass storage, virtual COM port and debug port