Labforge Brings AI into Vision Systems with Cadence

Labforge, a company based in Waterloo, Ontario, designs, builds, and manufactures smart cameras used in industrial automation and defense applications. Their flagship product, the Bottlenose smart camera, is a low-power device that can process computing at less than 10 watts. This makes it possible to automate tasks that are difficult to perform in factories because of constrained manufacturing and supply chains. Robotics and automation provide solutions to these constraints, and the Bottlenose smart camera is the key—when connected to a robot, it can perceive its environment and make decisions based on what it observes.

The Bottlenose smart camera is powered by the Cadence Tensilica Vision P6 DSP, a robust DSP that enables artificial intelligence (AI) inference directly on the device. This allows the camera to analyze images and instruct robots and other industrial processes. One of the significant benefits of the Vision P6 DSP is its low power usage. Despite its ability to handle massive processing, it consumes less than 10 watts of energy, making it perfect for industrial automation processes with power limitations. Furthermore, the Vision P6 DSP is explicitly designed for vision processing and deep learning, making it the ideal choice for vision-based applications.

The Vision P6 DSP is equipped with the powerful Xtensa imaging library, which boasts a familiar interface from open CV environments for easy use by developers. The Xtensa neural network compiler also accelerates various neural network layers and types directly on the device. In the past decade, AI and deep learning have made significant strides, and Cadence has played a crucial role in integrating these advances into cameras like the Bottlenose smart camera.

The Labforge Bottlenose smart camera showcases how AI is transforming the world. With AI incorporated into vision systems, Labforge addresses complex issues and enhances safety, efficiency, and effectiveness in industrial automation and defense applications. As AI continues to evolve, the Vision P6 DSP will undoubtedly play a critical role in bringing these advances into the camera and robotics industries. Learn how Labforge brings AI into vision systems with the Tensilica Vision P6 DSP.

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