Altera, formerly a subsidiary of Intel, has unveiled its new Agilex 3 FPGA chips, aiming to enhance computing capabilities at the intelligent edge. This launch signifies a significant stride for Altera as the company ventures independently into the burgeoning edge AI market.
Agilex 3 FPGAs: Enhancing Edge Intelligence
A New Era in Edge Applications
Altera’s Agilex 3 FPGAs are set to transform various edge applications like robotics, factory automation systems, and medical devices by providing versatile and programmable solutions. These newly introduced chips play a crucial role in facilitating the widespread deployment of artificial intelligence at the edge. Agilex 3 FPGAs are designed to address the increasing demands for real-time processing, low latency, and energy-efficient operations in edge computing environments.
Sandra Rivera, CEO of Altera, emphasized the significance of Agilex 3 FPGAs during a press briefing, noting that these chips represent the company’s commitment to advancing edge intelligence. She highlighted their potential to revolutionize how AI is integrated into edge devices, enabling industries to develop smarter and more responsive systems. The flexibility of Agilex 3 FPGAs allows for customization to meet diverse application requirements, making them an invaluable asset for developing cutting-edge edge solutions.
Technological Advancements
CEO Sandra Rivera highlighted the advanced capabilities of Agilex 3, including 1.9 times higher fabric performance and 38% lower power consumption than previous generations. These advancements position Agilex 3 FPGAs as a game-changer in the programmable logic industry. The significant boost in fabric performance means that edge devices can process more data in real-time, while the reduction in power consumption makes these chips ideal for power-sensitive applications.
Rivera also underscored Altera’s commitment to executing a leadership roadmap and delivering a full-spectrum portfolio tailored to diverse customer segments. The launch of Agilex 3 FPGAs is seen as the final piece in Altera’s comprehensive Agilex roadmap, which encompasses high-end, midrange, and now power-efficient, cost-effective edge solutions. This strategic roadmap aims to address the evolving needs of the market by providing scalable and adaptable programmable logic solutions.
Versatility and Performance
Segmentation for Broad Market Reach
The Agilex family is strategically segmented into high-end, midrange, and power-efficient tiers, tailored for diverse customer needs. The high-end Agilex 7 and 9 series cater to demanding applications such as data center infrastructure, networking, communications, and aerospace sectors. These series are equipped with built-in RF and multi-chip packaging capabilities, making them suitable for high compute density applications.
Meanwhile, the midrange Agilex 5 offers a balanced mix of power and performance, delivering twice the performance per watt compared to competitors. This makes Agilex 5 ideal for substantial market segments that require efficient power consumption without compromising on performance. By segmenting the Agilex family into distinct tiers, Altera lowers barriers to entry, broadens market participation, and accelerates innovation within the programmable logic industry.
Specific Solutions for Edge Applications
The Agilex 3 targets low-power, cost-constrained edge systems, meeting the stringent requirements of embedded and intelligent edge applications. This segmentation broadens market participation and accelerates innovation within the industry. Agilex 3 FPGAs are specifically designed to optimize edge applications by providing the necessary power, performance, and size efficiencies that these applications require.
These FPGAs are indispensable in fields such as industrial, automotive, and defense sectors, enhancing the intelligence of edge devices in a cost-efficient and network-efficient manner. For instance, drones can be deployed with more built-in intelligence, facilitating seamless integration of sensors and actuators in robotics for smart factories. Agilex 3 FPGAs enable real-time control in multi-axis robot arms by integrating machine learning capabilities into sensor pipelines, enhancing defect detection capabilities.
Empowering Innovation with FPGA AI Suite
Custom AI Platforms
The FPGA AI Suite enables machine learning engineers, software developers, and FPGA designers to create custom AI platforms using frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, and tools such as OpenVINO and Quartus Prime. This suite empowers users to modernize their edge and embedded infrastructure with customized AI solutions that ensure low latency, energy efficiency, and adaptability for future advancements.
By leveraging industry-standard frameworks and development tools, the FPGA AI Suite simplifies the process of developing, deploying, and optimizing AI models on edge devices. This, in turn, accelerates the integration of AI into various applications, allowing developers to innovate and deliver intelligent solutions quickly. The comprehensive nature of the FPGA AI Suite ensures that developers have access to the necessary resources and support to create robust and high-performing AI platforms.
Practical Applications
Real-world applications of Agilex 3 FPGAs include robotics, where they enable real-time control in multi-axis robot arms. These applications benefit from the enhanced object recognition capabilities provided by the fine-grained parallel processing and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) of Agilex 3 FPGAs. In smart factory environments, Agilex 3 FPGAs enhance defect detection capabilities, ensuring higher quality and efficiency in manufacturing processes.
Altera’s FPGAs are also critical in other sectors such as medical technology, where they enhance computing power and efficiency for applications like endoscopy and MRI machines. In the automotive industry, FPGAs process LIDAR sensor data in self-driving cars, providing real-time analysis and decision-making capabilities. The reprogrammable nature of these chips allows for over-the-air updates, making the designs future-proof by adapting to evolving standards and algorithms.
Mitigating Manufacturing Disruptions
Strengthening Supply Chain
Altera’s diversified manufacturing strategy, utilizing both TSMC and Intel Foundry, mitigates risks from disruptions such as tariff wars. This approach ensures continuous supply and fortifies defense-related projects requiring domestic production. By leveraging multiple foundries, Altera can maintain production continuity and meet customer demands even in the face of geopolitical challenges.
Rivera assured that Altera’s reliance on both TSMC and Intel Foundry strategically positions the company to navigate potential disruptions effectively. Intel’s extensive U.S.-based chip fabrication capabilities, coupled with TSMC’s increasing presence in the U.S., further bolster Altera’s resilience. This diversified supply chain strategy not only ensures uninterrupted manufacturing but also aligns with the security requirements of Altera’s defense-related projects.
Expanding Production Capabilities
The production-ready Agilex 3 devices are now available for customer orders, along with Agilex 5 E-Series devices optimized for power-sensitive applications. This expansion enhances Altera’s ability to address various market segments by providing optimized solutions for both high-performance and power-sensitive applications. The high-volume production release of Agilex 5 E-Series devices marks another significant milestone for Altera, offering high levels of integration and computing capabilities for intelligent edge applications.
The availability of development kits, partner boards, and system-on-modules for Agilex 3 FPGAs further aids customers in their development and deployment processes. By providing these resources, Altera ensures that developers can quickly and efficiently implement Agilex 3 FPGAs into their edge applications, accelerating time-to-market and fostering innovation.
Future-Proofing with MAX 10 FPGA Family
New Package Options
The company is expanding the MAX 10 FPGA family with variable pitch BGA packages, increasing value by reducing form factors and maintaining high I/O counts. This innovation lowers the total cost of ownership for users while providing compact and efficient solutions for various applications. The introduction of variable pitch BGA packages for the MAX 10 10M40 and 10M50 product lines demonstrates Altera’s commitment to enhancing the versatility and accessibility of its FPGA offerings.
Engineering samples of MAX 10 FPGAs in the VPBGA-610 package are available for order, with production silicon expected by Q3 2025. These developments showcase Altera’s commitment to providing comprehensive and future-proof solutions that cater to the evolving needs of the market. The new package options also enable developers to design more compact and integrated systems, meeting the increasing demand for miniaturization in electronic devices.
Accessibility and Integration
Altera, which was previously a part of Intel, has introduced its latest Agilex 3 FPGA chips. These chips are designed to boost computing capabilities specifically at the intelligent edge, a crucial area for modern technology development. This introduction marks a pivotal moment for Altera as it embarks on its journey as an independent entity in the rapidly expanding edge AI market. The new Agilex 3 chips are expected to play a significant role in advancing edge computing, where data is processed close to the source of generation, reducing latency and improving performance. With this launch, Altera aims to position itself as a key player in next-gen technology solutions, catering to the increasing demands of edge computing and artificial intelligence. This move signifies Altera’s commitment to innovation and technology advancement. By focusing on edge AI applications, Altera is strategically leveraging its expertise to meet the evolving needs of its clients, ensuring it remains relevant and competitive in a fast-paced, tech-driven world.