Allied Vision, a global provider of industrial camera solutions andAntmicro, a software-driven embedded technology company developing advanced open-source based edge computing systems, have announced a strategic partnership to drive their common goals in building complex and portable vision systems.
The announcement is made to underline the ongoing collaboration between the companies that started with the joint demonstration of a successful technology integration between Allied Vision’s revolutionary Alvium camera series and Antmicro’s real-time deep learning object detection system based on the NVIDIA Jetson Xavier edge computing platform. The collaboration between Antmicro and Allied Vision in the embedded software domain was since extended to cover the entire NVIDIA Jetson series including the Jetson Nano board, as well as multiple platforms from NXP.
Advanced image processing
Allied Vision delivers camera solutions for industrial inspection, medical and scientific imaging, traffic monitoring, and many more applications. With an integrated Image Signal Processor and a comprehensive Image Processing Library, the ALVIUM® technology allows system engineers to perform image corrections and preprocessing tasks on the camera instead of using resources of the embedded board. This enables customers with an embedded vision background to tap into standardized machine vision capabilities previously only available to more expensive, PC-based solutions, as well as industrial machine vision customers to migrate from industrial PC to more tailored and cost-optimized embedded solutions.
Allied Vision’s idea of open interfaces and true portability enabled by a compatible series of cameras interfacing a range of sensors with a variety of embedded platforms resonates well with Antmicro’s vision of scalable and open technology. Antmicro works closely with Allied Vision around the Alvium series, developing the Alvium camera software stack for embedded Linux system-on-modules from other Antmicro partners like NVIDIA, NXP, Toradex, and Google.
Edge AI systems
Allied Vision cameras, combined with Antmicro’s software and hardware development services - seeded by an open-source, customizable hardware offering such as Antmicro’s open Jetson Nano baseboard and Google Coral baseboard - can be used by industrial customers to gain an unprecedented technology advantage in designing powerful products, especially those using edge AI, in areas such as robotics, automotive, UAVs, medical, mining, transportation, and retail.
"Alvium cameras provide a unified image sensor platform for edge AI systems using embedded vision, which we develop for a significant share of our customers", says Michael Gielda, VP Business Development at Antmicro. "A freedom to choose between camera models and platforms while keeping a single interface boosts our ability to quickly deliver AI-enabled solutions to customers who care about openness and future-proofing."
Partnership for embedded vision systems
The two companies intend to work together both on a strategic and operations level. Allied Vision and Antmicro sales and FAE teams will be advising joint customers on selecting the base computing platform, software, and hardware development options. The advice will also include integration and AI services for machine vision projects across various industrial verticals to offer complete product solutions leveraging the modularity of the Alvium camera series.
"The partnership with Antmicro extends the offer for embedded vision systems and can support our customers and partners to realize their solution faster. Technology develops very fast within the embedded environment. With Antmicro’s mindset to invest in open-source based systems and focus on future technology, we feel well prepared to challenge such upcoming developments", says Sebastian Günther, Embedded Strategy Manager at Allied Vision.