Allied Vision and Antmicro agree image processing partnership

28 Jul 2019

To provide joint offering for modular embedded vision and edge AI systems.

Allied Vision, a global provider of industrial camera solutions, based in Exton, PA, and Antmicro, Kista, Sweden-based software-driven embedded technology company, have announced a strategic partnership to achieve their common goals in developing complex and portable vision systems.

The companies' collaboration started with their joint demonstration of a technology integration between Allied Vision’s 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 has now been extended to cover the entire NVIDIA Jetson series including the Jetson Nano board, as well as multiple platforms from NXP.

Diverse applications

Allied Vision supplies camera technologies for industrial inspection, medical and scientific imaging, traffic monitoring. With an integrated Image Signal Processor and a comprehensive Image Processing Library, its Alvium technology allows system engineers to perform image corrections and preprocessing tasks on the camera instead of using resources of the embedded board.

The company says this approach 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 says that its open interfaces and portability enabled by a range of cameras working with a range of sensors with different platforms complements Antmicro’s scalable and open technology. The partners are developing the Alvium camera software stack for embedded Linux system-on-modules from other Antmicro partners like NVIDIA, NXP, Toradex, and Google.

Michael Gielda, VP Business Development at Antmicro, commented, "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. Freedom to choose between camera models and platforms while keeping a single interface boosts our ability to deliver AI-enabled solutions to customers."

The two companies say they 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.

Sebastian Günther, Embedded Strategy Manager at Allied Vision, added, "This partnership with Antmicro extends the offer for embedded vision systems and can support our customers and partners to realize their solution faster. With Antmicro’s will to invest in open-source based systems and focus on future technology, we are well prepared to challenge such upcoming developments.”