Congatec's AI-based next-generation embedded AI vision
Announcing a Starter Kit for Applications... Featuring NPU
Includes all ecosystems that can be designed immediately


On the 9th, congatec Korea launched a starter set for developing AI-based smart embedded vision applications. This SMARC computer-on-module (COM)-based starter set is equipped with NXP Semiconductors' i.MX 8M Plus processor with built-in NPU.

Deep learning-based AI, with a performance of up to 2.3 TOPS (Terra Operations Per Second), the starter set can run inference engines and libraries such as Arm neural networks (NN) and TensorFlow Lite, an open-source machine learning platform.

It can also be immediately applied to the development of next-generation AI-based embedded vision systems by linking with embedded vision software from Basler, a machine vision specialist.

It supports a wide range of applications, including unmanned store payment automation systems, building safety, vehicle navigation, and bus detection systems. In the industrial sector, it is utilized in vision-based user identification, motion-based HMI, robotics, and industrial quality inspection systems.

“Integrating the starter set into a ready-to-use hardware and software platform such as the Basler pylon Camera Software Suite enables rapid development of NPU-based smart vision applications,” explains Martin Danzer, Head of Product Management at congatec.

The Basler Pylon Camera Software Suite provides a unified SDK for BCON for MIPI, USB3 Vision, and GigE Vision cameras. It enables camera access from source code, GUI or third-party software, and is also suitable for evaluating camera functions.

The Starter Set includes the entire ecosystem developers need to immediately begin designing applications based on the next-generation platform, accelerating AI development efficiency. Specifically, the SMARC 2.1 COM 'conga-SMX8-Plus' is at the core, featuring four Arm Cortex®-A53 cores, one Arm Cortex-M72 controller, and an NXP NPU to accelerate deep learning algorithms and provide passive cooling.

The 3.5-inch board 'conga-SMC1/SMARC-ARM' directly connects the 13MP Basler Dart daA4200-30mci BCON for MPI cameras with an F1.8 f4mm lens via MIPI CSI-2.0 without a separate converter module. It also supports USB and GigE Vision cameras.

Congatec provides a bootable SD card with a pre-configured bootloader, a Yocto OS image, a matching BSP, and Basler embedded vision software optimized for the processor. This enables immediate AI inference training based on captured images and video sequences.

Meanwhile, congatec will present its i.MX 8 processor portfolio at the Virtual NXP Technology Days, taking place from June 8th to 30th. Further details on the congatec ecosystem for i.MX 8-based designs can be found on the congatec website .