The TI Sitara AM574x processors incorporate dual-core Arm Cortex-A15 RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) CPUs with Arm Neon™ extensions and two TI C66x floating-point DSP cores. The processors include a dual programmable real-time unit for industrial communications subsystems (PRU-ICSS) that can be used for industrial Ethernet protocols such as Profinet, EtherCAT, and Ethernet/IP. The devices also combine programmable video processing with a highly integrated peripheral set, offer up to two embedded vision engines (EVEs), and include cryptographic acceleration.
The devices integrate a robust IVA-HD (Image and Video Accelerator - High Definition) subsystem with support for 4K at 15 fps, H.264 CODEC encoding and decoding, a 2D graphics accelerator, and a dual-core 3D GPU. Other features include two Gigabit Ethernet ports, a general-purpose memory controller, an enhanced direct memory access (EDMA) controller, sixteen 32-bit general-purpose timers, and a 32-bit MPU watchdog timer.
The Sitara AM574x processors are compatible with the TMDSIDK574 Industrial Development Kit (IDK), a standalone test, development, and evaluation module that enables developers to write software and develop hardware for industrial control and communications applications. The TMDSIDK574 separates six Ethernet ports, four of which can be used simultaneously: two Gigabit Ethernet ports and two 10/100 Ethernet ports, from the PRU-ICSS subsystems.
The IDK TMDXIDK574 also includes connectors for Mini PCIe, USB 3.0, and HDMI, and supports an optional TMDXIDK57X-LCD touchscreen. The kit offers a defined set of features to enable developers to experiment with industrial communication solutions using various serial or Ethernet-based interfaces. Using standard interfaces, the IDK TMDXIDK574 can interface with other processors or systems and act as a communication gateway or controller. Furthermore, it can function directly as a standard remote I/O system or as a sensor connected to an industrial communication network.
