QNX Expands Collaboration With AMD To Advance Embedded System Performance In Robotics And High-Performance Applications

QNX has expanded its collaboration with AMD to improve performance in robotics and other embedded systems. This includes support for AMD’s adaptive computing devices, enabling efficient processing of real-time workloads. The partnership helps developers create advanced autonomous systems using AI and high-performance computing.

QNX, a division of BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB), has announced an expansion of its collaboration with AMD to bring enhanced performance capabilities to robotic systems and other embedded applications. This development extends QNX’s support for a broader range of AMD adaptive computing devices, marking a significant step in embedded and real-time computing innovation.

“This collaboration enables developers to leverage the strengths of both companies to create next-generation autonomous systems. Embedded real-time workloads often involve computationally intensive tasks, such as running deep learning models for autonomous navigation or object detection. QNX SDP 8.0 optimises the use of multicore processors, hardware accelerators, and GPUs to manage these demands efficiently,” said John Wall, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Product, Engineering and Services at QNX. 

Strengthening the foundation of embedded system innovation

Building upon the partnership announced in April 2024, QNX and AMD continue their joint efforts to advance the embedded systems industry. This expansion introduces support for the QNX® Software Development Platform (SDP) 8.0 across AMD Kria™ System-on-Modules (SOMs), AMD Zynq™ UltraScale+, and Versal™ adaptive System-on-Chip (SoC) platforms. The integration enables developers to leverage the capabilities of the QNX® Operating System (OS) and QNX® Hypervisor to design and deploy high-performance applications with enhanced efficiency.

With real-time operating system (RTOS) capabilities, QNX ensures deterministic performance, an essential requirement for embedded software. The integration of AMD’s adaptive computing technology with QNX solutions is poised to impact industries such as industrial automation, medical technology, automotive systems, and robotics, where reliability and precision are crucial.

Impact on robotics and embedded system development

The expanded support for AMD’s computing devices equips developers with a powerful platform for building next-generation autonomous systems. The combination of QNX SDP 8.0 with AMD’s adaptive platforms ensures optimal utilisation of multicore processors, hardware accelerators, and GPUs, meeting the computational demands of artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, including deep learning models used in autonomous navigation and object detection.

“QNX’s expanded support for AMD adaptive and embedded products is a testament to our shared vision of driving innovation in embedded systems,” said John Wall, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Product, Engineering and Services at QNX. 

Simon George, Director of Solutions Engineering, Embedded Software at AMD, emphasised the importance of this partnership, stating, “We are excited to deepen our relationship with QNX, bringing enhanced QNX SDP 8.0 capabilities to the embedded systems market. The combination of AMD adaptive platforms and QNX’s proven and trusted RTOS and Hypervisor will empower developers to push the boundaries of what’s possible in embedded systems.”

Advancing real-time performance in robotics

For robotic system developers, the partnership between QNX and AMD opens new possibilities. QNX’s real-time scheduling capabilities ensure that critical tasks—such as sensor processing and motion control—are prioritised and executed with minimal latency. This guarantees seamless operation in high-stakes environments, reducing unpredictable delays that could impact system performance.

QNX’s use of an abstraction layer for hardware-specific software enables seamless implementation on various AMD platforms. This approach simplifies development processes by handling architecture-specific configurations and hardware initialisation, providing a stable and reliable environment for developers.

About BlackBerry

BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) is a global provider of intelligent software and services that power enterprises and governments worldwide. Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry’s high-performance foundational software enables major automakers, industrial organisations, and technology innovators to drive transformative applications while maintaining high security, safety, and reliability standards. With a legacy in secure communications, BlackBerry delivers solutions that enhance operational resiliency across industries, including automotive, healthcare, industrial control systems, and aerospace.

About QNX

QNX, a division of BlackBerry Limited, is a leading provider of safe and secure operating systems, hypervisors, middleware, and development tools for embedded systems. QNX technology has been deployed in critical applications worldwide, including in over 255 million vehicles. 

With a focus on delivering real-time, high-performance computing solutions, QNX serves industries such as automotive, medical devices, robotics, and industrial automation. Founded in 1980, QNX is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. Learn more at QNX.com.