Is the new Raspberry Pi AI Kit better than Google Coral?

Kevin McAleer
4 Jun 202403:48

TLDRThe Raspberry Pi AI Kit, priced at $70, offers an affordable and efficient way to integrate AI capabilities with the Raspberry Pi 5. It includes the Halo AI acceleration module, which boasts 13 TOPS of inference performance, three times faster than Google Coral's 4 TOPS. The kit supports multiple camera inputs and various AI models, including YOLO, segmentation, and pose estimation, showcasing its high performance and versatility in real-time object detection and processing tasks.

Takeaways

  • 😀 Raspberry Pi has introduced a new AI Kit designed to enhance the capabilities of the Raspberry Pi 5.
  • 💰 The AI Kit is affordably priced at $70, making AI technology more accessible.
  • 🔌 The kit includes the Halo AI acceleration module, which connects to the Raspberry Pi 5 via a PCIe Generation 3 connection.
  • 🚀 The Halo module boasts a top performance of 13 TOPS, outperforming Google Coral's 4 TOPS.
  • 🔥 The Raspberry Pi AI Kit is three times faster than Google Coral and offers more efficient power usage at 3 TOPS per watt.
  • 🌐 The kit supports a broader range of AI frameworks compared to Google Coral's TensorFlow Lite integration.
  • 📦 The AI Kit comes with a pre-attached M2 HAT, making it easy to set up and use with Raspberry Pi 5.
  • 📷 The kit is designed to work seamlessly with camera modules, with a convenient cut-out for camera cables.
  • 📹 The AI module can process video at 30 frames per second, allowing for real-time object detection and analysis.
  • 🤖 The AI Kit supports various AI models including YOLOv5, YOLOv8, and YOLOX for object detection.
  • 🎭 The kit also includes a pose estimation model, showcasing the potential for advanced AI applications.

Q & A

  • What is the new Raspberry Pi AI Kit?

    -The new Raspberry Pi AI Kit is a bundle that includes the Raspberry Pi 5, an AI acceleration module called Halo, and a PCIe M.2 HAT designed to bring AI capabilities to the Raspberry Pi platform.

  • How much does the Raspberry Pi AI Kit cost?

    -The Raspberry Pi AI Kit costs $70.

  • What is the performance of the Halo AI acceleration module in terms of operations per second?

    -The Halo AI acceleration module can perform up to 13 Terra operations per second.

  • How does the Raspberry Pi AI Kit compare to Google Coral in terms of TOPS?

    -The Raspberry Pi AI Kit's Halo module performs up to 13 TOPS, which is three times faster than Google Coral, which can perform up to 4 TOPS.

  • What is the power efficiency of the Halo AI acceleration module?

    -The Halo AI acceleration module has a power efficiency of 3 TOPS per watt.

  • What is included in the Raspberry Pi AI Kit box?

    -The Raspberry Pi AI Kit box includes the Halo module, the M.2 HAT, mounting hardware, and a stacking GPIO header.

  • How does the Raspberry Pi AI Kit support multiple cameras?

    -The Raspberry Pi AI Kit can share its inference engine across multiple cameras concurrently through the PCIe Generation 3 connection.

  • What is the advantage of the Raspberry Pi AI Kit over Google Coral in terms of software support?

    -The Raspberry Pi AI Kit has broader support for new network frameworks compared to Google Coral, which is tightly integrated with TensorFlow Lite.

  • What additional components did Raspberry Pi send for testing the AI Kit?

    -For testing the AI Kit, Raspberry Pi also sent a Raspberry Pi 5, a power supply, a microSD card with pre-release software, and a camera module.

  • What kind of AI tasks can the Raspberry Pi AI Kit perform?

    -The Raspberry Pi AI Kit can perform tasks such as object detection, image segmentation, and pose estimation using models like YOLOv5, YOLOv8, and YOLOX.

  • How does the AI Kit handle multiple object detection?

    -The AI Kit can detect multiple objects simultaneously without significant performance degradation, as demonstrated by the smooth operation at 30 frames per second.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Introduction to Raspberry Pi AI Kit

Raspberry Pi has introduced a new AI kit, designed to enhance the AI capabilities of the Raspberry Pi 5 at a cost of just $70. The kit includes the Raspberry Pi 5, an M2 hat with the Halo AI acceleration module, mounting hardware, and a stacking GPIO header. The Halo module is equipped with a neural processing unit capable of performing up to 13 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second), offering high-performance AI integration. It connects to the Raspberry Pi 5 via a PCIe Generation 3 connection, allowing for the sharing of the inference engine across multiple cameras. The kit is positioned as a cost-effective and accessible solution for AI enthusiasts and developers.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Raspberry Pi AI Kit

The Raspberry Pi AI Kit is a new offering from Raspberry Pi that aims to bring AI capabilities to the Raspberry Pi 5 at an affordable cost. It includes the Raspberry Pi M.2 HAT+ with a pre-installed Hailo AI acceleration module. The kit is designed to be an accessible and cost-effective way to integrate high-performance AI, with the ability to perform up to 13 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) of inferencing performance. It also includes a thermal pad for effective heat management, making it suitable for various AI computing tasks such as object detection, image segmentation, and pose estimation. The kit's seamless integration with Raspberry Pi's software ecosystem and support for multiple neural network frameworks make it a versatile choice for AI projects.

💡Hailo AI acceleration module

The Hailo AI acceleration module is a key component of the Raspberry Pi AI Kit, featuring a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that can perform up to 13 TOPS of inferencing performance. This module is designed to enhance the AI capabilities of the Raspberry Pi 5 by providing a powerful and efficient way to run AI models. It connects to the Raspberry Pi 5 via the M.2 HAT+ and is capable of handling multiple neural networks across multiple cameras concurrently. The module's efficiency, with a performance of 3 TOPS per watt, surpasses that of some other AI accelerators, making it an attractive option for edge AI applications.

💡Google Coral

Google Coral refers to a line of AI accelerators designed to work with devices like the Raspberry Pi to enhance their AI processing capabilities. The Coral devices, such as the Coral USB Accelerator and Coral M.2 Accelerator with Dual Edge TPU, are known for their integration with TensorFlow Lite and support for various AI frameworks. They offer a way to perform AI inferencing at the edge, which can be beneficial for applications requiring real-time processing and low latency. However, in comparison to the Raspberry Pi AI Kit, the Coral's performance and efficiency may be considered less competitive, with a performance of up to 4 TOPS and 2 TOPS per watt.

💡TOPS

TOPS, or Tera Operations Per Second, is a measure of the processing capability of AI accelerators. It indicates the number of operations an AI accelerator can perform in one second, with one TOPS equal to one trillion (10^12) operations per second. In the context of the Raspberry Pi AI Kit, the Hailo AI acceleration module can perform up to 13 TOPS, which is a significant figure in the realm of AI accelerators, especially when considering the kit's cost and power efficiency.

💡Neural Processing Unit (NPU)

A Neural Processing Unit (NPU) is a type of hardware accelerator designed specifically for neural network computations. It is purpose-built to handle the complex matrix operations that are common in AI and machine learning tasks. The NPU in the Hailo AI acceleration module of the Raspberry Pi AI Kit is capable of high-performance AI inferencing, which allows for efficient execution of AI models directly on the Raspberry Pi 5. This is particularly useful for applications that require real-time AI processing, such as object detection and image recognition.

💡Edge AI

Edge AI refers to the practice of performing AI computations on local devices, near the source of data, rather than relying on remote servers or cloud-based processing. This approach offers several benefits, including reduced latency, improved privacy, and lower bandwidth usage. The Raspberry Pi AI Kit, with its on-board Hailo AI acceleration module, enables Edge AI by providing the necessary hardware for local AI processing, which is ideal for applications that require real-time responses and decision-making.

💡Raspberry Pi 5

The Raspberry Pi 5 is the latest iteration of the popular single-board computers made by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. It serves as a powerful and versatile platform for various applications, including AI and machine learning projects. The Raspberry Pi AI Kit is designed to be used with the Raspberry Pi 5, leveraging its capabilities and expanding its functionality with the addition of the Hailo AI acceleration module. The combination of the Raspberry Pi 5 and the AI Kit allows for high-performance AI applications in a compact and cost-effective package.

💡M.2 HAT+

The M.2 HAT+ is a hardware accessory for the Raspberry Pi 5 that allows for the connection of M.2 modules, such as the Hailo AI acceleration module included in the Raspberry Pi AI Kit. It provides a standardized way to expand the capabilities of the Raspberry Pi 5, enabling the use of advanced AI accelerators and other M.2 devices. The M.2 HAT+ is an essential component of the AI Kit, facilitating the integration of the Hailo module and ensuring a seamless connection between the module and the Raspberry Pi 5.

💡TensorFlow Lite

TensorFlow Lite is a lightweight version of Google's TensorFlow framework, optimized for running machine learning models on mobile and edge devices. It is designed to enable on-device AI by allowing the execution of trained models with low latency and minimal resource consumption. The Raspberry Pi AI Kit, with its support for TensorFlow Lite, allows developers to deploy and run AI models directly on the Raspberry Pi 5, leveraging the power of the Hailo AI acceleration module for efficient inferencing.

Highlights

Raspberry Pi announces a new AI kit for $70, enhancing AI capabilities on Raspberry Pi 5.

The kit includes the Halo AI acceleration module, designed for use with Raspberry Pi 5.

The Halo module contains a neural processing unit capable of 13 TOPS of inference performance.

It connects to Raspberry Pi 5 via PCIe Generation 3 and supports multiple cameras concurrently.

Google Coral can perform up to 4 TOPS compared to the 13 TOPS of the Halo module.

Coral is tightly integrated with TensorFlow Lite, while Halo offers broader support for new network frameworks.

The Halo module is three times faster than Google Coral and has a more efficient core.

The AI kit is priced at $70 and comes with a pre-attached Halo module on the M2 hat.

The kit facilitates easy camera attachment with a cut-out for camera cables.

Raspberry Pi OS has updated libraries to utilize the AI module for post-processing.

The AI module can detect objects and run models at 30 frames per second, freeing up the main CPU.

Multiple object detection is smooth and efficient, even with multiple models like YOLO 5, YOLO 8, and YOLO X.

A segmentation model is included, effectively separating the subject from the background.

Pose estimation is also demonstrated, showcasing the module's ability to track body movements.

The video provides a hands-on demonstration of the AI kit's capabilities and ease of assembly.

The AI kit's performance and practical applications are showcased through real-time object detection and analysis.