Raspberry Pi, the company known for its small and inexpensive single-board computers, has released a new accessory that further expands the capabilities of its devices, and because it's 2024, this one also has a focus on artificial intelligence (AI). The new Raspberry Pi AI Camera, an image sensor with integrated AI processing, will be priced at $70 and promises to open up new applications in industrial and technology fields.
Technical features of the AI Camera
The camera is based on the Sony IMX500 image sensor and uses an RP2040 microcontroller, developed by Raspberry Pi itself, which includes on-chip SRAM. This new accessory follows the company's philosophy: to be affordable and efficient. Although the RP2040 chip will not replace the powerful Nvidia GPUs used in inference AI modeling, in combination with the image sensor, it offers a solution capable of capturing and processing images using common neural networks. One of the great advantages of this module is its on-board processing, which allows the Raspberry Pi connected to the device not to be overloaded by visual data management. In this way, the computer can continue to perform other operations without the need to add an external accelerator. In addition, the AI Camera is compatible with all Raspberry Pi models.
Industrial and commercial uses
Although Raspberry Pi is popular among technology enthusiasts, today most of its devices are sold to companies that use them in industrial products or assembly lines. In fact, after becoming a public company, the company reported that 72% of its sales come from the industrial and embedded sector. This percentage is likely to be even higher for the AI Camera. This new module has clear applications in industrial environments, such as in quality automation, where it could be used to inspect objects automatically. It could also be integrated into smart city solutions, such as sensors that detect empty parking spaces or monitor traffic flow. Raspberry Pi's ability to produce these modules on a large scale, along withits promise to keep the AI Camera in production until at least January 2028, reinforces its reliability for businesses that rely on these devices in their daily operations.
