Coffee & Chips: Low Power WMCU Design - The hairy edge: striking a balance between low-power, performance and cost
Speaker: Robin Hoel, Texas Instuments On one Friday each month, speakers from Norwegian startup communities and research institutions are invited to share their knowledge on microchips, semiconductors, and sensors. The goal of this series is to create a meeting place for everyone interested in advanced microchip and sensor technology in Norway. Coffee and Chips gives companies the opportunity to promote their work, while researchers can share insights into the latest developments in their fields. Abstract: As the Internet of Things (IoT) expands into increasingly complex environments, the demand for highly efficient Wireless Microcontroller Units (WMCUs) has never been greater. However, engineers face a daunting "hairy edge": the struggle to balance ultra-low power consumption and battery life measured in years with high-performance communication and data processing and competitive product cost. This presentation introduces the low-power wireless MCU market, exploring the fundamental design trade-offs required to design the next generation of edge devices. Beyond architectural considerations, Robin will show how Texas Instruments leverages its unique position as an integrated semiconductor manufacturer to gain a competitive advantage. By controlling the process from silicon design through proprietary manufacturing, TI can optimize device performance and power profiles in ways that traditional fabless models cannot. Students will gain insights into how vertical integration enables more aggressive optimization, driving innovation in the wireless landscape and providing the industry with more robust, cost-effective, and energy-efficient solutions. Author: Throughout his 19-year tenure as an architect in Texas Instruments, Robin has been key to the success of multiple connectivity product families with total sales of billions of units. Robin's unique multidisciplinary expertise enables him to drive excellence across the entire product lifecycle – from strategic technolo