Advantech has announced a collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies and its subsidiary Edge Impulse, seeking to deliver advanced edge artificial intelligence (AI) solutions powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ-9075 processor. The joint initiative aims to address the growing needs for efficient and scalable AI performance in various industries, including manufacturing and robotics. The companies plan to debut these new technologies at Embedded World North America, further expanding their reach into the edge AI sector. Industry observers note that continued advancements in hardware and development platforms are changing how businesses adopt intelligent automation, positioning these collaborations as strategic moves responding to increasing market demand. Advantech and Qualcomm’s partnership combines device expertise and platform capabilities to address challenges commonly faced when deploying AI at the edge.
How Did Earlier Collaborations Shape Edge AI Offerings?
Earlier initiatives in edge AI from both Advantech and Qualcomm highlighted modest performance improvements and limited ecosystem support. More recently, both companies focused on developing broader AI-ready hardware and easier integration with software frameworks, responding to challenges such as deployment complexities and compatibility hurdles. By uniting around the Dragonwing IQ-9075 processor and Edge Impulse’s toolsets, this launch stands out for its emphasis on ecosystem collaboration, software-hardware co-design, and industrial reliability. Prior public information did not mention the specific focus on long-term deployment and new camera integration options now promoted through their AIR-055 and AFE-A503 systems.
What Advantages Does the Dragonwing IQ-9075 Processor Offer?
The Dragonwing IQ-9075 processor, powering Advantech’s AIR-055 and AFE-A503, delivers up to 100 TOPS of AI performance. Equipped with dual Qualcomm Hexagon NPUs and an 8-core Qualcomm Kryo Gen 6 CPU, it provides the hardware capabilities required for demanding edge applications. Its design supports over ten years of longevity, which targets industrial environments with extended operational requirements.
How Will the New Advantech Edge Systems Serve Industry Needs?
The new AIR-055 system, leveraging the IQ-9075 processor, is built for applications requiring vision language models (VLMs) and large language models (LLMs) at the edge. With multiple connectivity features and a unique camera integration method achieved through collaborations with Appropho and Orbbec, it supports smart manufacturing, retail, robotics, and public safety. Meanwhile, the AFE-A503 system is designed for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and outdoor applications, offering robust connectivity, power management, and the Advantech Robotic Suite to accelerate time-to-market for developers.
“By combining Qualcomm Technologies’ powerful Dragonwing IQ-9075 processor and Edge Impulse’s proven platform, we are creating new AI-ready solutions with strong foundation for intelligent edge applications,”
stated Miller Chang, President of Advantech’s Embedded IoT Group.
“This collaboration will empower industries to harness the full potential of intelligent, autonomous systems, accelerating the adoption of next-generation AI applications across diverse sectors,”
said Nakul Duggal, Group GM, Automotive, Industrial & Embedded IoT at Qualcomm Technologies.
Strategic partnerships like this—spanning hardware, developer tools, and optimized integration—reflect a broader trend where industry players look to reduce friction in deploying edge AI. System longevity, flexible camera and sensor support, and comprehensive software kits distinguish these offerings from previous generations. Potential users should be aware of the growing availability of all-in-one edge platforms tailored to diverse verticals, with focus on lifecycle management, reliability, and ecosystem collaboration as important decision factors when considering new deployments.
