Briefly: Raspberry Pi simply launched the Raspberry Pi AI Digicam as an inexpensive part for AI-driven tasks. It pairs properly with the corporate’s new Raspberry Pi AI Equipment for the Pi 5. Nonetheless, it is suitable with all RP fashions, not simply the Pi 5.
Not too long ago, Raspberry Pi partnered with Sony to develop a digital camera with a built-in AI accelerator. This design permits the Sony IMX500 picture sensor to course of pictures, leaving the Pi extra cycles for different AI duties. The digital camera helps a number of neural community fashions with excessive power effectivity and low-latency processing.
The RP AI Digicam makes use of a 12 MP Sony IMX500 Clever Imaginative and prescient Sensor, able to capturing pictures at resolutions as much as 4056×3040 at 10 frames per second or 2028×1520 at 30 fps. It has an adjustable focus and a 78-degree discipline of view.
In contrast to the Raspberry Pi AI Equipment, which is barely suitable with the Raspberry Pi 5, DIYers can join the AI Digicam to any Raspberry Pi mannequin, together with the extra inexpensive Raspberry Pi Zero, by customary ribbon cables. This backward compatibility permits customers of earlier Raspberry Pi variations to start out AI tasks with minimal further funding.
The digital camera’s key energy lies in its integration with Raspberry Pi’s software program ecosystem, together with its digital camera stack, libcamera. The IMX500 sensor captures and processes frames utilizing an built-in picture sign processor earlier than handing them off to the AI accelerator, the place fashions like MobileNet SSD or PoseNet can carry out object detection or pose estimation, as demonstrated in RP’s video examples (above and beneath).
Customers also can develop customized AI fashions or convert current ones through Sony’s AI instruments. It makes the part a versatile platform for builders, researchers, or AI fans.
When paired with the Raspberry Pi 5, a sooner customized protocol enhances the information switch pace between the digital camera and the processor. Each merchandise present sturdy AI acceleration, with optimizations designed to combine seamlessly into the Raspberry Pi digital camera software program stack. So, whereas the digital camera works with any Pi, the AI Equipment gives extra bang for the buck.
Talking of the buck… The Raspberry Pi AI digital camera is offered now from the same old suspects for a really affordable $70. Take a look at RP’s product web page for retailers in your area.
