Webinar – Leveraging Software Power on a System in Package Platform – Octavo – STM32

Witekio recently hosted Leveraging Software Power on a System in Package Platform, an exclusive webinar with partners Octavo and STMicroelectronics. Over the course of an hour experts from the three companies explained the benefits of the System in Package (SIP) platform for companies building out their IoT offering.

The Speakers

Speaking on behalf of ST, Mike Hartmann brought years of experience and a unique business and engineering perspective to the webinar. With 20 years behind him at STM and having help positions in marketing and engineering in ST’s Digital Product Group and Consumer Business Unit, he is currently a Microcontroller and Microprocessor Product Marketing Engineer in ST’s Americas region.

Hartmann was joined by Neeraj Dantu, an Applications Engineer at Octavo Systems. He has spent his career designing a variety of embedded systems and developing embedded software and firmware and specializes in projects that rely on Octavo’s SIP technology.

Finally, Witekio’s own Raphaelle Decussy joined Hartmann and Dantu bringing her years of experience at the embedded and IoT software specialist to the table. With expertise gained from time spent as an engineer in Frankfurt, Seattle, and Paris, she has worked in Windows embedded, Linux embedded, and low-level application development for a wide variety of use industrial clients.

A Deep Dive in SIP

The webinar attracted a variety of attendees from across the IoT and embedded software community. Chief among them were Project Managers seeking to ease customer app ports with leading technological approaches, R&D Managers already actively developing smart and connected devices, as well as IT Managers seeking to optimize their platforms by combining technologies to optimal effect.

Hartmann led off the webinar with an overview of ST’s STM32MP1 Microprocessor Series. The STM32MP1 is a general purpose MPU suitable for scalable applications that leverages the STM32 foundation and has a flexible architecture that targets real-time and HMI applications. Among features of the microprocessor that he highlighted were the advances security options, its industrial connectivity and advanced analog Cortex-M4 for real time processing, and ST’s 10-year longevity commitment that is renewed every year.

Dantu followed with an explanation of Octavo’s SIP and how this was the next stage in a technological revolution that began with the invention of the transistor in 1948, moved through the eras of integrated circuit and integration on silicon, and now is in a period of integration beyond silicon. He focused particularly on two of Octavo’s SIP platforms, the OSD32MP1-BRK and the OSD32MP1-RED, both of which use ST’s STM32MP1 microprocessor.

Decussy then joined the conversation and offered some examples of development on top of Octavo’s SIP. She focused on the choice of a Debian distribution and the advantages that this might have for connected devices. Decussy explained the difference between – and the pros and cons of – Debian and Yocto and demonstrated why choosing Debian and an all-in-one SDK could be the best solution for developers and vendors alike.

Question Time

With the webinar moving into the Q&A period, it was time for the audience to get involved. Attendees posed questions to the three experts on the webinar panel, with an immediate focus on the Octavo SIP platforms.

Attendees were interested in everything from patches for the Octavo SDK for the Linux kernel 5.10.10 to the new 800MHz version of the OSD32MP1 and even whether samples of the OSD31MP1 could be made available for developers. There was interest, too, in Decussy’s Debian explanation and questions about Octavo’s support for OpenStLinux and whether a Windows system can be used to develop for Debian and Yocto.

A question was also posed to Hartmann on the importance of ST’s 10-year longevity guarantee. He explained that this was a key commitment from ST to ensure that device vendors could develop on microprocessors like the STM32MP1 without worrying about the MPU being shelved shortly after they got to market. It offered companies security, peace of mind, and the confidence to move forward with their hardware choices.

Watch the Replay