Semiconductor design house Gaonchips said on Oct. 15 that it had joined Arm Total Design for Physical AI, becoming the first South Korean design solution provider (DSP) to participate in the initiative.

Arm Total Design for Physical AI is a global collaboration framework established by Arm and its technology partners. Participants jointly develop and validate full-stack solutions that integrate Arm-based software and hardware.

The initiative aims to reduce development risks and accelerate the commercialization of physical AI systems. Physical AI refers to technologies that enable robots, autonomous vehicles and other systems to perceive the physical world, make decisions and act autonomously.

Gaonchips will support the implementation of Arm-based semiconductors for physical AI applications. Through silicon-to-system collaboration, the company will provide support throughout the development process, from semiconductor chip design to finished system implementation.

Gaonchips is an Arm Approved Design Partner with experience in turnkey system semiconductor design and physical implementation. Turnkey design involves handling the entire process from chip planning to finished product manufacturing according to customer requirements. Physical implementation is the process of translating logically designed circuits into semiconductor patterns on a wafer.

The company is building expertise in developing large AI chips using Samsung Electronics’ 2-nanometer foundry process and in mass-producing automotive semiconductors. It has also carried out designs based on 8nm and 4nm processes.

“We aim to grow into a strategic technology partner that supports the implementation and commercialization of Arm-based AI systems using advanced processes while reducing customers’ development risks and time to market,” said Woo Jung-ho, executive vice president of Gaonchips.