Texas Instruments presents the Sitara AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessors, launched last month, which delivers power dissipation levels below 7mW, along with two industrial automation hardware development tools, complete software and analog signal chain complement to provide a total industrial automation system solution. Perfect for industrial automation designs, the AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessors include a programmable real-time unit on-chip interface to enable real-time industrial communications capability (master and slave) to support popular protocols, such as EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, PROFIBUS, PROFINET, POWERLINK and SERCOS III. This unique PRU + ARM architecture in the AM335x ARM microprocessors eliminates the need for an external ASIC or FPGA to reduce system complexity and save on bill of materials costs by more than 30 percent. The AM335x ARM microprocessors also include other key, on-chip industrial peripherals — CAN, ADC, USB + PHY and two-port Gigabit Ethernet with IEEE1588 — to enable fast network connectivity and rapid data throughput, as well as connection to sensors, actuators and motor control.
Designers can take advantage of the pin-to-pin and software compatibility of the AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessors and design several end equipments with the devices that best fit their industrial automation need, such as drives and I/O-level devices, Industrial PLC applications and HMI products.
Accompanying the AM335x ARM microprocessors are two industrial hardware development tools -the AM3359 Industrial development kit and the AM3359 Industrial communications engine - to enable customers to easily incorporate industrial communication standards in their industrial automation designs. Designers can also utilize the AM335x evaluation module to begin development. Further easing development is a software development kit with free, production-ready, certified software for industrial automation, supporting Linux, Android and Windows Embedded Compact 7 for high-end applications. For low-end applications, the SDK contains the ultra-compact, real-time SYS/BIOS operating system. The SDK also includes support for popular industrial communications protocols, industrial automation design demos, applications notes and videos.
