Assembling a 5G Robot: Qualcomm's Cutting-Edge Technology for Everyone

In the past two years, 5G has experienced explosive growth. Previously, it was a technology mentioned by experts and scholars as something of the future, but now it is commonplace in our daily lives. 5G smartphones, 5G tablets, 5G plans, 5G robots—if we are willing, we all have the opportunity to experience the new changes brought by 5G.

However, many people may not expect that ordinary individuals can also have the opportunity to assemble a 5G robot themselves. Qualcomm has launched a 5G system for robots and drones—RB5, which comes with hardware, software, and development tools. Interested individuals who want to learn relevant knowledge and have the funds to purchase various components can completely DIY a 5G robot at home!

Qualcomm’s Unexpected Ventures

Qualcomm has always been known as a mobile chip manufacturer, especially in the Android smartphone sector, where almost all brands except Huawei use Qualcomm chips. However, merely occupying the smartphone market can no longer satisfy Qualcomm’s appetite. After becoming the standard for flagship devices, Qualcomm’s next targets are AI, XR, drones, and robots.

▲ Qualcomm’s next targets are AI, XR, drones, and robots

On Qualcomm’s official website, it clearly states: “Over thirty years of accumulation in mobile technology has laid the foundation for the era of invention. Just as we once unlocked 3G and 4G technologies to open the mobile internet era; today, the foundational technologies we invent make 5G a reality, connecting cars and almost everything, creating a truly interconnected world. A brand new era full of infinite possibilities is opened by our inventions.”

▲ Qualcomm’s official declaration

In this new era, Qualcomm’s business model remains the same as before, providing chipsets and other product solutions to lighten the burden on frontline manufacturers. The RB5 platform is Qualcomm’s new solution in the era of the Internet of Things. “With the Qualcomm RB5 platform, Qualcomm will help accelerate growth in various fields of robotics, thereby promoting industrial development. It lays the foundation for 4.0 robot applications and unmanned aerial traffic management (UTM) space,” said Dev Singh, Senior Director of Business Development at Qualcomm Technologies and head of Autonomous Robotics, Drones, and Intelligent Machines.

What is the RB5 platform?

For any type of robot, whether it’s a personal robot costing 1000 yuan or an industrial robot costing 2 million yuan, the key tasks a robot needs to perform are perception, cognition, action, and communication, and the RB5 platform packages all of these together. It is similar to a computer motherboard, not only featuring the Snapdragon 865-derived “QRB5165” chipset but also includes RAM, NAND storage chips, PMICs for SoC power supply, circuit board components, Wi-Fi/BT modules, and supports 4x HDMI output, SD card slots via SDIO, USB 3.1 hubs, USB-C connectors, gigabit Ethernet, DSI and CSI connectors for connecting displays and cameras, as well as various other general I/O, including two channels of PCIe.

Too many complex terms can be hard to understand. Simply put, the RB5 platform itself constitutes the core of the robot; it has core chips for computations; it has memory for storage; it connects to other devices via Wi-Fi/BT modules; it perceives the external environment through camera interfaces; and it outputs information through HDMI slots, DSI, and CSI connectors, etc. With it, robot manufacturing companies can modularize the complex robot development process. The Qualcomm RB5 platform has already built the robot’s “brain” and “skeleton”; the remaining parts like “limbs” and “eyes” can be filled in gradually. These operations are not very difficult; they are just slightly more challenging than assembling a computer host, so small startups and even interested geeks can complete it themselves.

▲ RB5 platform

Of course, the Qualcomm RB5 platform has far more capabilities than this; it also has additional mezzanine boards that provide vision, sensor, motor control, industrial, and communication mezzanine boards, which can provide 5G, AI, heterogeneous computing, computer vision engines, and advanced ISP multi-camera concurrency for various applications. These extra features are primarily aimed at robotics innovation companies with higher requirements. According to Qualcomm, more than 100 robotics companies are already collaborating with them, including automated guided vehicles, autonomous mobile robots, delivery robots, drones, collaborative robots, and machines designed for inventory and industrial purposes.

Siasun, a leading robotics manufacturer in China, stated that it is one of the first companies in the industry to adopt the RB5 platform. The company’s vice president, Luo Yang, said: “5G and AI technologies have shown strong momentum in the industry’s transition to a new era. The Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform will provide more possibilities for the Siasun Pongbot ping pong robot system, including lightweight mobility, remote real-time interaction with multiple devices, real-time AI computation, and cloud feedback.”

The Vast Potential of 5G Drones

With the powerful capabilities of the RB5 platform, robots from various fields can adopt the same platform. Among these diverse types of robots, I found a strange figure: the drone. The RB5 platform is specifically designed for robotic platforms; why would drones appear?

Actually, this involves the definition of a robot. The United Nations Standardization Organization adopted the definition given by the American Robotics Association: “A programmable and multifunctional operation machine; or a specialized system that can execute different tasks through programmable actions modified by a usable computer.” Drones are indeed such machines, capable of automatic control and programmable control. Moreover, drones can fly in the air, making them airborne robots.

The RB5 platform features powerful logic chips for computation, storage chips for data storage, and interfaces such as cameras, displays, USB, and Wi-Fi, which seamlessly connect with drone requirements. According to Qualcomm’s information, the RB5 can process video up to 8K/4K HDR and static photos of 200MP, and can support up to 7 cameras simultaneously. The kit prepared for developers includes a 12-megapixel main camera as well as other cameras with tracking, depth detection, ToF, and other functions, and the device will also include various sensors for pressure, temperature, and magnetism.

▲ RB5 platform’s powerful capabilities

Additionally, Qualcomm has extensive experience with drone platforms. In September 2016, Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon Flight drone platform based on the Snapdragon 801, which integrated GPS, wireless connectivity, graphics processing, and other functions based on mobile chips, directly bringing the functions shared between mobile phones and drones into use. At that time, companies like ZeroTech and Puzhu adopted this platform, but their products did not succeed in the market.

Now, with the RB5 platform featuring 5G, AI, heterogeneous computing, and computer vision engines, the 5G drone may unleash tremendous potential.

▲ Qualcomm keeps pace with the times

From the 2G era to the 5G era, Qualcomm has always been there, providing patents, chips, and solutions. In the 5G era, Qualcomm is not alone; the RB5 platform is just the first step, and smart cities, smart homes, extended displays, and audio solutions will be promoted one after another. In the 5G era, Qualcomm should not be underestimated!

Image source: pixabay, Qualcomm official website