One of the newly-announced ESP32 parts from Espressif will be RISC-V based. Looks to be targeting the 'value' / single-core (ESP8266 replacement) space rather than performance. Other new part is multi-core LX as before, but with some IoT performance-related (AI) peripherals.
https://www.cnx-software.com/202...
Given the volumes that they ship, this seems to be a feather in the cap for RISC-V.
Appears to have a TWAI (CAN) peripheral, so I'm happy :)
Means they don't need to pay license fees to Tensilica. I doubt that going to RISC-V gives any other advantage.
Means they don't need to pay license fees to Tensilica. I doubt that going to RISC-V gives any other advantage.
As they take care to use the name TWAI and not CAN, they're probably avoiding royalties to Bosch as well.
My sense is this says as much about legitimising RISC-V rather than any end-user advantage, other than price. It should be largely invisible to most people, given the toolchain will be mostly identical.
I doubt that going to RISC-V gives any other advantage.
You don't see the advantage? Expressif is a Chinese company. Nvidia is trying to buy ARM. Tensilica is US based already. The reason for going RISC-V seems pretty obvious to me.
?? RISC-V is also U.S based.
Apart from the supposed political motivation, licensing as I suggested is the major influence. As well, Chinese companies have a number of IP implementations of RISC-V, so going to RISC-V is an easy path to less cost.
In terms of architecture etc, I don't see an advantage.
?? RISC-V is also U.S based.
About RISC-V - RISC-V International
[mid-page]
RISC-V International is a global nonprofit association based in Switzerland.
...
Contact Us - RISC-V International
Good point - I had noticed that some time ago. It did come out of the U.S!
Draft datasheet (original English version) "leaked" by Espressif staff http://esp32.com/download/file.php?id=5437
Good point - I had noticed that some time ago. It did come out of the U.S!
This was conscious choice, to remove it from US (or anywhere else) govt export control ... think Huawei, etc. It seems Espressif attracted significant investment for the development work, so this is very much a strategic move on their part.
I do wonder where this will go. This part is a high-volume, low-end replacement for ESP8266. RISC-V is definitely multi-core capable although Espressif is staying with Tensilica IP for their performance product, for the time being at least.
But this is veering on a political discussion and I'm wary of the the mods and their feather dusters ... ;)
But this is veering on a political discussion and I'm wary of the the mods and their feather dusters ... ;)
Feather dusters were taken out of service as the birds wanted their feathers back. We now have Swiffer wands instead.
Jim
