Qualcomm Targets Robot Builders With Single-Box Sensor Platform

What happened: Qualcomm has introduced the Dragonwing IQ10 Robotics Reference Design. The platform lets developers connect multiple sensors to a robot without a separate sensor board.

Why it matters: Rival reference designs often require buyers to add a separate sensors board. Qualcomm’s design integrates these functions, which the company says makes deployment simpler. The reference design will reach early access customers in June, with hardware pricing not disclosed.

Industry context: The design connects to robotic camera sensors using the GMSL2 protocol for high-definition video, links to lidar over Ethernet, and connects inertial measurement units through the IQ10 SoC. Qualcomm draws on a decade of automotive electronics work for perception, temperature and safety. Competing robot reference designs already exist, including offerings from STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments.