Qualcomm Launches Dragonwing IQ-X: Oryon CPU Brings 45 TOPS Edge AI to Factory PCs • Daily CyberSecurity

Qualcomm has announced the launch of its first processor series designed specifically for industrial-grade computers (Industrial PCs, IPCs)—the Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ-X lineup. Built upon Qualcomm’s proprietary Oryon CPU architecture and integrating up to 45 TOPS of AI computing power, the series brings advanced edge intelligence to programmable logic controllers (PLCs), industrial touch-panel computers, and edge controllers, accelerating the transformation toward factory automation and smart manufacturing.

Nakul Duggal, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Qualcomm Technologies’ Automotive, Industrial, and Embedded IoT business unit, noted that the Dragonwing IQ-X series delivers the Oryon CPU’s class-leading single-threaded and multi-threaded performance to the industrial computing core, empowering on-site edge controllers with greater speed and capability.

In terms of hardware, the Dragonwing IQ-X processors are manufactured using an advanced 4nm process. Their customized Oryon CPUs offer a scalable configuration of 8 to 12 high-performance cores.

To meet the demands of Industry 4.0 for robust edge AI capabilities, the series integrates an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) capable of delivering up to 45 TOPS of AI throughput. This enables industrial systems to run AI workloads directly on-device—supported by Qualcomm’s AI software stack and widely used frameworks such as ONNX and PyTorch—powering mission-critical applications including predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, and defect detection.

Designed for harsh industrial environments, the Dragonwing IQ-X series features ruggedized packaging and supports an industrial-grade temperature range, operating reliably from –40°C to 105°C.

On the software side, the platform supports Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC as well as industry-standard tools and middleware, including Qt, CODESYS, and EtherCAT. Qualcomm highlights that the series adheres to standard COM (Computer-on-Module) form factors, allowing it to be used as a drop-in replacement for existing carrier boards while reducing bill of materials (BOM) costs by eliminating the need for external AI or multimedia modules.

Qualcomm reports that the Dragonwing IQ-X series has already been adopted by several leading global OEMs. Notably, the list includes multiple major Taiwanese industrial PC manufacturers—Advantech, NEXCOM, and Portwell—as well as international players such as Congatec, Kontron, Tria, and SECO.

Commercial devices powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ-X series are expected to begin rolling out over the coming months.