Zuken Introduces AI-Powered PCB Place and Route Technology for CR-8000

Yokohama, Japan, Westford, USA, and Munich, Germany, Sept. 19, 2023 – Zuken Inc, a leading provider of electronic design automation solutions, introduces a revolutionary approach to AI-assisted PCB design. The new technology, called AIPR, an acronym for Autonomous Intelligent Place and Route, will be provided as part of Zuken’s established CR-8000 PCB engineering and design platform. It will enable new levels of PCB design efficiency and accuracy by harnessing machine learning.

The new Autonomous Intelligent Place and Route product will be comprised of a new routing engine called Smart Autorouter that leverages machine learning based on an innovative technology, dubbed the Brain. The latter will be introduced in 3 stages starting with the Basic Brain, and the future extensions Dynamic Brain and, ultimately, Autonomous Brain.

Our three-stage AI approach will empower designers with an enhanced toolkit within the CR-8000 platform, accelerating design cycles and unlocking new dimensions of creativity.

Kazuhiro Kariya Sr. Managing Executive Officer and CTO of Zuken Inc.

Elevating Design by learning from Design Expertise
The first stage, the Basic Brain revolutionizes PCB design at the foundational stage by learning from Zuken’s library of design examples and existing design expertise. Seamlessly integrated into the robust CR-8000 platform, Basic Brain enhances the user experience by routing the design utilizing the Smart Autorouter based on learned approaches and strategies.

Fusing AI with Design Experience
In the second stage, Zuken’s Dynamic Brain will learn from newly created PCB designs, utilizing past design examples and integrating them into AI algorithms. Combining customers’ best practices with AI insights will result in accelerated design iterations and notable enhancements in overall productivity, all within the framework of the CR-8000 platform.

Autonomous Brain: Redefining AI Evolution
The third and final stage is the Autonomous Brain, an AI-driven powerhouse in continuous learning mode, pushing the boundaries of creativity. The Autonomous Brain’s capability to self-improve with each project will herald a new era of AI-driven innovation and is available exclusively within Zuken’s CR-8000 platform.

With the new CR-8000 AIPR platform Zuken underlines commitment to delivering heightened efficiency, accuracy, and technological progress to address the ever-increasing challenges of electronic design. Kazuhiro Kariya, Sr. Managing Executive Officer, and CTO of Zuken Inc., commented: “Our three-stage AI approach will empower designers with an enhanced toolkit within the CR-8000 platform, accelerating design cycles and unlocking new dimensions of creativity.”

Autonomous Intelligent Place and Route with Smart Autorouter and Basic Brain products will be available in Q1 2024. The Dynamic Brain and Autonomous Brain products will be available in future releases.

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