China’s Hygon moves beyond data centres with embedded processors for robotics, edge AI

Chinese chipmaker Hygon Information Technology unveiled its Hygon 1000 series of embedded processors on Tuesday, marking an expansion from cloud computing into the burgeoning market of physical artificial intelligence. These Hygon 1000 processors are designed for integration into industrial automation systems, such as robotics and factory controllers, allowing for local computing and graphics processing.

Built on a C86 architecture compatible with Intel's x86, the four-core, eight-thread CPUs support both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Priced between $40 and $80, these chips feature integrated graphics capabilities and represent Hygon's smallest chips to date, with nearly half the package size of their 3450M laptop processor. Hygon CEO Sha Chaoqun emphasized the trend of computing power shifting from cloud-based systems to edge and device-based computing, highlighting the chips' ability to operate efficiently in real-time processing, low power consumption, and secure environments.

Huang Wei, the general manager of Hygon's Innovative Product Department, noted that the edge AI market is experiencing rapid growth, targeting the industrial-control market, robotics, and smart manufacturing. The company plans to release a next-generation 1000 series in 2027, with a projected doubling of computing performance. As a Shanghai-listed chipmaker, Hygon plays a pivotal role in Beijing's efforts to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency amidst US restrictions on China's access to advanced chips.

The company's current CPU product lines include the 7000 series for high-performance data centres, the 5000 series for industry cloud and edge-computing customers, and the 3000 series for cost-focused applications. In 2022, Hygon's first-half revenue grew by 66.5%, reaching 9.1 billion yuan ($1.4 billion), fueled by strong demand for high-end domestic chips.