TULIPP: Towards Ubiquitous Low-power Image Processing Platforms

Abstract

Many industrial domains rely on vision-based applications which require to comply with severe performance and embedded requirements. TULIPP will develop a reference platform, which consists of a hardware system, a tool chain and a real-time operating system. This platform defines implementation rules and interfaces to tackle power consumption issues while delivering high, energy efficient and guaranteed computing performance for image processing applications. Using this reference platform will enable designers to develop a complete solution at a reduced cost to meet the typical embedded systems requirements: Size, Weight and Power. Moreover, for less constrained systems which performance requirements cannot be fulfilled by one instance of the platform, the reference platform will also be scalable so that the resulting boards can be chained for higher processing power. The instance of the reference platform developed during the project will be use-case driven and split between the implementation of: a reference hardware architecture - a scalable low-power board; a low-power operating system and image processing libraries; a productivityenhancing tool chain. It will lead to three proof-of-concept demonstrators across different application domains: real-time and low-power medical image processing product prototype of surgical X-ray system (mobile c-arm); embedded image processing systems within Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); automotive real time embedded systems for driver assistance. TULIPP will set up an ecosystem and will closely work with standardization organizations to propose new standards derived from its reference platform to the industry.