Raspberry Pi teased an unannounced AI-enabled camera module at Embedded World 2024, a collaboration with Sony featuring on-module processing and compatible with the Raspberry Pi range. The Raspberry Pi AI Camera simplifies complex AI tasks right at the edge.

With the proliferation of AI in everything, it’s no surprise that Raspberry Pi and their friends at Sony are getting out ahead of that wave. At Embedded World 2024, they’ve unveiled a camera module with built-in AI. Yes, no matter which Raspberry Pi you connect it to, the processing is done on outboard, on the Raspberry Pi AI camera itself. And the board is no larger than any of the previous Raspberry Pi Camera Modules.
 
Raspberry Pi AI Camera Module
The Raspberry Pi AI Camera, seen here in a 3D-printed holder, on a tripod.

The module features Sony’s innovative IMX500 sensor, which stands out with its 12 MP intelligent vision sensor and integrated low-power AI processing, enabling a wide array of neural network models to be run directly on the device.

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What Can the AI Camera Do?

Key features include the ability to import custom TensorFlow models, a pre-installed MobileNet machine vision model (a model open-sourced by Google), a 76-degree field of view, and manual focus adjustment. The camera module also comes equipped with 200 mm cables, making it versatile for all Raspberry Pi CSI connections.
 
Raspberry Pi AI Camera recognizing a Human Frame
The demo, running on a Raspberry Pi Zero, was quite capable of detecting my portly frame, as well as those of several other visitors to the booth, at several frames per second.

Benefits for Us

This combination of high-resolution imaging and AI capabilities directly on the sensor offers significant power savings, while boosting processing performance for edge IoT applications. The Raspberry Pi AI Camera will likely bring us accessible and powerful edge computing devices, suitable for everything from simple hobbyist projects to complex industrial solutions.
 
The AI camera mounted on Raspberry Pi Zero
The Raspberry Pi AI Camera module mounted on a Rasbperry Pi Zero.

For our maker community, that means being able to harness real-time AI processing, reducing the workload on the main processor and paving the way for a multitude of real-world applications in AI vision. While not officially announced, the product is on display at Embedded World 2024 — no news on pricing or availability yet, so keep an eye on our site for further updates and availability details.

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