Dragonwing IQ9: Edge AI for the Automation of the Future

Edge AI SoCs Dragonwing IQ9: Edge AI for the Automation of the Future

2025-06-23 From Thomas Carmody, Product Manager at Codico | Translated by AI 3 min Reading Time

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The scalable Edge AI SoCs enable the efficient operation of powerful AI models with minimal power consumption. They are designed for extreme temperature ranges and offer integrated security features for critical applications.

IQ9: The Thundercomm Development Kit from Qualcomm contains a QCA SoC.(Image: Qualcomm) — IQ9: The Thundercomm Development Kit from Qualcomm contains a QCA SoC.
(Image: Qualcomm)

With regard to the growing demand for AI-powered automation, Qualcomm Technologies positions the Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ9 series as a key technology for a wide range of applications—from industrial machines and edge computing boxes to gateways, drones, and robotics. These SoCs play a crucial role in integrating AI into environments where safety, reliability, and efficiency are of utmost priority.

The Demand for Artificial Intelligence is Growing Rapidly

Edge AI is on the rise as companies increasingly rely on large language models (LLMs) and advanced AI technologies to boost productivity and optimize industrial operations. According to the World Economic Forum, generative AI and LLMs could affect up to 40 percent of working time in the future.

Gallery

Qualcomm-Dragonwing-IQ9: The series consists of two SoCs, the Dragonwing-IQ-9075 and the Dragonwing-IQ-9100 processors.(Image: Qualcomm)

At a glance: Main features of the Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ9 series.(Image: Qualcomm)

Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ9 series: These scalable and powerful Edge AI SoCs enable the efficient operation of high-performance AI models with minimal power consumption.(Image: Qualcomm)

In manufacturing, logistics, retail, and agriculture, for example, AI-supported systems enable the real-time processing of large amounts of sensor and camera data, allowing machines to interact naturally with human operators.

This seamless collaboration between humans and intelligent machines will optimize production and logistics processes, reduce errors and waste, and improve resource efficiency. For example, farmers can minimize the use of fertilizers while achieving higher yields, and retail supply chains can avoid excess inventory through more precise planning. Additionally, LLMs help preserve and transmit institutional knowledge, enabling new employees to be trained more quickly and efficiently. These are just a few of the transformative possibilities that AI-powered edge computing offers for industrial applications.

Structure And Software of the Dragonwing IQ9 Series

The Dragonwing IQ9 series consists of two SoCs—the Dragonwing IQ-9075 processor and the Dragonwing IQ-9100 processor. For applications that require lower computational power and edge AI performance, the Dragonwing IQ-9075 processor is suitable and offers a seamless upgrade path to the Dragonwing IQ-9100 processor. The Dragonwing IQ-9100 processor is designed for more demanding applications such as robotics and provides advanced DSP and computing resources to handle simultaneous AI workloads and ensure functional safety. To simplify board design for customers and reduce supply chain complexity, Qualcomm offers these powerful edge AI devices as a modular solution. This solution integrates the Qualcomm SoC, power management ICs, and LPDDR5 RAM.

From a software perspective, the Dragonwing IQ9 series relies on Qualcomm's Developer Program—a continuous initiative that provides a complete software environment to enable customers to develop and deploy powerful edge AI applications based on the latest Qualcomm SoCs.

In recent years, Qualcomm Technologies has invested significantly to provide a comprehensive software suite—from the operating system to developer SDKs (for computer vision, AI, and robotics) as well as AI deployment tools and workflows that optimize the development process and enable customers to implement their applications more quickly.

Many industrial applications require long-term software support, including operating system and middleware support for up to ten years, parallel to the availability of the SoCs. The Dragonwing IQ9 series is the latest generation of industrial-grade SoCs from Qualcomm Technologies and comes with Qualcomm Linux—a comprehensive package of software, tools, and documentation specifically tailored to industrial software requirements.

What the Dragonwing IQ9 Series Offers in Detail

The Dragonwing IQ9 series offers a Yocto Linux LTS build for long-term applications and a separate Ubuntu Linux build, ensuring long-term support in industrial installations with BSP (Board Support Package) and regular security updates. Registered users have access to the Dragonwing IQ9 software and tools on the dedicated Dragonwing IQ9 series landing page via Qualcomm.com. In addition to hardware and software resources, technical documentation is available to support new users of the Dragonwing IQ9 series and other Qualcomm industrial SoCs. The Dragonwing IQ9 series landing page provides registered users with access to reference manuals, datasheets, layout, and design guidelines.

In addition, Qualcomm has launched an open community forum for its family of industrial SoCs. This allows customers to access technical questions and answers, as well as knowledge articles, based on the collective knowledge of a growing number of engineers and organizations, as well as Qualcomm's own experts who utilize Qualcomm Technologies industrial products. The forum is organized by technical topics such as AI, operating systems, developer tools, profiles, and compilers, and is accessible to all users. Once a user is registered with Qualcomm Technologies, they can post their own questions and receive support.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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The Dragonwing IQ9 series landing page and the technical community forum are further complemented by tutorials and knowledge-based videos, provided by Qualcomm Technologies on YouTube on the Developer Channel. Want to start with the Dragonwing IQ9 series? Codico is happy to assist you if you would like to learn more details. (mk)