Renesas RZ/V2L entry-level MPUs

Renesas Electronics has announced its RZ/V2L microprocessors (MPUs), designed for entry-level AI-enabled applications. As part of the RZ/V Series, the MPUs incorporate the company’s AI accelerator — the DRP-AI (Dynamically Reconfigurable Processor) — to make embedded AI easy and power efficient. The MPUs feature high-precision AI inference capabilities combined with high power efficiency. They also include optimisations such as tailoring the DRP-AI operating frequency and memory interface for an entry-level MPU.

The DRP-AI provides both real-time AI inference and image processing functions with capabilities essential for camera support, such as colour correction and noise reduction. This enables users to develop AI-based vision applications, such as point-of-sale (POS) terminals and robot vacuum cleaners, without requiring an external image signal processor (ISP). In addition, the MPU’s good power efficiency eliminates the need for heat dissipation measures such as heat sinks or cooling fans. AI can therefore be implemented not only in surveillance cameras and industrial equipment, but also in a wide range of applications including home appliances and consumer electronics.

The product is package- and pin-compatible with the existing RZ/G2L general-purpose MPUs. This allows RZ/G2L users to easily upgrade to the RZ/V2L for additional AI functions without needing to modify the system configuration. As part of the RZ/V2L development environment, Renesas offers a complimentary DRP-AI Translator — a tool that automatically converts AI models into an executable format. The input format is the industry-standard Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX). Developers can leverage the DRP-AI while using the tools they are accustomed to, allowing them to immediately start using the MPU to evaluate AI models based on learning data.