Ultra Low-Power, Low-Cost Design in Microcontroller Subsystems
As the industry standard, Arm Cortex-M processors are ideal for teaching the fundamentals of embedded systems. Researchers are increasingly undertaking TinyML with Microcontroller Subsystems and Cortex-M processors, as well as more traditional sensing, digital signal processing and control projects running bare-metal or an RTOS. Arm Fixed Virtual Platforms, ubiquitous and affordable hardware, and a comprehensive toolchain enable seamless software development.
Hardware Design
Academics can access commercially proven, unencrypted Cortex-M RTL and pre-verified Corstone reference packages to reduce the cost and complexity of integrating custom research IP. Community proven reference designs, training, education and support help speed up and smooth the hardware journey.
Featured Resources
IP | Arm Academic Quickstart
Individual Access to Cortex-M0 and M3
Arm Academic Quickstart enables PhD students to begin immediately, with access to unencrypted microprocessor RTL. Additionally, instant access to obfuscated Cortex-M0 and M3 is available through Arm CPU Evaluation.
IP | Arm Academic Access
Institutional Access to A Suite of Cortex-M Technology
Arm Academic Access is a free subscription program, allowing multiple research teams to work with a wide range of technology, including Cortex-M and associated Corstone packages.
COURSE | Featured Course
Take a Cortex-M SoC Design Course
Learn about developing Cortex-M0 based SoCs from creating high-level functional specifications through design, implementation and testing on FPGA.
Community Resources
COMMUNITY | SoC Labs
Leverage 'NanoSoc', a Re-Usable Cortex-M Platform
Access a reference platform designed to host research components, allowing seamless transition from FPGA to custom ASIC tape-out which reduces time, cost, and complexity.
COMMUNITY | SoC Labs
Training on 'NanoSoC', a Re-Usable Cortex-M Platform
Express interest in training on the reference Cortex-M platform designed to host research components.
COMMUNITY | SoC Labs
Community Support for Your SoC Project
Discuss your research with an experienced team at SoC Labs, the global academic community for Arm-based projects. Sign up to start the conversation.
Other Resources
WEBINAR | Featured Webinars
Access an Academic SoC Webinar
Arm and CMC Microsystems will discuss how you can utilize our collective offers to enable your research work.
EDKIT | Featured Education Kit
Teach a Typical Cortex-M Based SoC Development Process
Download curriculum-aligned content to teach the basics of SoC design and key practical skills to implement on FPGA.
BOOK | Featured Book
Download a Free Textbook on Cortex-M SoC Design
Learn about the principles of an embedded system as well as security features, standards, and software.
Software Development
The ecosystem for bring-up and application software development on Cortex-M is vast and highly experienced. The toolchain is available via a free Keil MDK Visual Studio Code extension or as standalone components like CMSIS and Arm compiler for Embedded. Functionally accurate Arm Fixed Virtual Platforms are available for all Cortex-M processors, and as an academic, you can join the Developer Program for support.
Featured Resources
DEVELOPER | Arm Developer
Get Institution-Wide Access to Arm Development Studio
Access a dedicated IDE including the Arm Compiler for embedded and optimized libraries across Cortex-M applications. Universities can obtain a free institution-wide license.
DEVELOPER | Arm Developer
Join the Arm Developer Program
Join the free Arm Developer Program for community support from Arm and industry experts.
BOOK | Featured Book
Get an E-Textbook on Cortex-M Embedded Systems Fundamentals
Faculty can get a free inspection copy of our e-textbook introducing students to embedded systems creation using Cortex-M0+. Topics covered include the CPU, interrupt systems, peripherals, and programming.
Arm Tools and Learning Paths
TOOL | Arm Keil MDK
Cortex-M Toolchain
Access a comprehensive development environment of APIs, software components, debugging tools, and workflows for Cortex-M developers, as Visual Studio Code extensions. Ideal for academic developers wanting to get started within minutes.
TOOL | Fixed Virtual Platforms
Cortex-M Fixed Virtual Platforms
Access Fixed Virtual Platforms, functionally accurate models for Cortex-M microcontrollers, enabling academic developers to test and run software quickly and easily.
RESOURCES | Learning Paths
Bite-Sized Learning Paths for Cortex-M
Get simple step-by-step tutorials designed to help you develop Cortex-M software more quickly and easily.
Other Resources
RESOURCES | CMSIS
CMSIS-NN Examples
Get example source code for digital signal processing and light-weight machine learning with CMSIS-NN. Suitable for microcontrollers with or without a floating point unit.
TOOL | Research Enablement Kit
Design and Prototype a Cortex-M0 SoC
Gem5 is an open-source architecture modeling software, ideal for performance analysis and teaching. This research kit leverages Gem5 and an openly available evaluation version of Cortex-M0 to demonstrate a SoC design flow, including how to validate your custom research IP.
COURSE | Featured Course
Learn About ML at the Edge
Access a free online course covering the basics of AI, ML, and the Edge, including practical labs using TensorFlow and other frameworks.
Our comprehensive range of online courses, books, and education kits is useful not only for teachers and learners, but for researchers as well.
Other academic developer teaching and research platforms.
Education content for teachers and researchers.
Education content for undergraduate and early career learners.
Training for those who already have access to Arm technology.