RISC-V, pronounced “risk-five,” is based on established reduced instruction set computer (RISC) principles and allows anyone to design, manufacture, and sell RISC-V chips without paying licensing fees. This openness enables a new level of innovation and customization in processor design, attracting even bigger industry players like Nordic Semiconductor and NXP, and accelerating RISC-V-based product development and commercialization.
This shift towards open-source hardware architecture is a potential game-changer for embedded designers and developers, promising new possibilities in innovation, cost reduction, and product lifecycle control.