Strategic partnership between Framos and Antmicro enables rapid development of open source-based embedded vision systems

For more than 40 years, FRAMOS has been helping customers around the world develop groundbreaking image processing systems that enable breakthroughs in a wide range of industries.

In all phases of the development and deployment of image processing systems, companies rely on FRAMOS’ proven expertise in the areas of component selection, consulting, customer-specific adaptation, prototyping and series production.

The hardware and software development services and diverse open source platforms for video processing including camera accessories provided by Antmicro create an optimal starting point for device development with FRAMOS image processing solutions. As a specialist in the development of production-ready edge AI and camera systems, Antmicro also develops open source tools for OTA/Fleet Management (Remote Device Fleet Manager), AI (Kenning), hardware and BSP testing (Protoplaster) and simulation (Renode).

Through their cooperation, FRAMOS and Antmicro aim to achieve synergies in the development of groundbreaking modular embedded vision devices based on FRAMOS’ optical sensor modules and Antmicro’s comprehensive open source hardware and software portfolio as well as edge AI, simulation and hardware development services.

“FRAMOS offers the 2 MP IMX662 sensor, the 8 MP IMX678 sensor and the 12 MP IMX676 sensor, each tailored to different applications and delivering optimal performance via various interfaces such as GMSL,” says André Brela, Product Manager at FRAMOS.

Through the cooperation, FRAMOS and Antmicro customers benefit from “direct” access to the interactive System Designer Framework, which takes advantage of the modularity and openness of product components and allows them to create prototypes and bring their own ideas to life through attractive interactive 3D renderings of physical boards, adapters for FRAMOS sensor modules and individual hardware components. In addition, customers can simulate their software in the open source framework Renode.

“The integration of FRAMOS’ FSM:GO sensors with Antmicro’s open source hardware and software ecosystem promotes component reusability through the modularity of Antmicro’s developed computer vision systems – resulting in customers being able to bring their edge AI devices to market faster,” said Michael Gielda, co-founder and VP Business Development at Antmicro.

Accelerating development through open source

Open source technologies are transforming the development of complex systems through innovative methods and tools that enable developers to create even better products. Antmicro is a pioneer in the global open source landscape and is driving efforts to vertically integrate the entire computing supply chain, including open source technologies such as RISC-V International, the Zephyr Project and the CHIPS Alliance. The company provides strategic advice to companies on open source deployment and develops its own open source technologies such as RDFM, Protoplaster, Kenning and Renode to simplify product development.

Integration of imaging products with open source hardware and software portfolio

Antmicro has partnered with FRAMOS to enable better integration of FRAMOS vision products into its own open source hardware and software portfolio, including BSP generators, AI pipeline development, OTA, Fleet Management, Factory & Simulation Testing Frameworks, and vision pipeline debugging and development tools. Customers can integrate FRAMOS optical sensor modules into real products faster using Antmicro’s hardware and software services.

For FRAMOS, the partnership with Antmicro is a further step on the way to becoming a holistic solution provider. The cooperation simplifies the design-in of optical sensor modules so that customers can concentrate more on the application. With the help of the ready-to-use components from FRAMOS and Antmicro, they can shorten the time to market of their products – an essential prerequisite for surviving in today’s fast-moving market environment.

By partnering with FRAMOS, Antmicro can expand its component library in the Open Hardware Portal, thereby lowering the barrier to entry for customers interested in using FRAMOS camera-based computer vision systems, while ensuring testability and scalability.

Antmicro intends to systematize the hardware and software world to ensure reusability, testability and automation. The integration of the FRAMOS optical sensor modules, which are compatible with Antmicro’s open hardware baseboards (e.g. Jetson Orin Baseboard) and corresponding accessories (e.g. (FRAMOS CSI Adapter), contributes to the expansion of the open hardware ecosystem around computer vision and thus also in the field of robotics and edge AI.

Faster time to market with FRAMOS’ FSM:GO optical sensor modules

Thanks to their easy integration and proven reliability, FRAMOS’ FSM:GO optical sensor modules save users the complex selection of sensors, lenses and image tuning. With the new product launch, FRAMOS is providing a selection of image processing products and services for embedded vision as an integrated technology in machines and devices.

FSM:GO is the first optical module series to cover the entire range of the latest Sony Starvis 2 technology.

The FSM:GO sensor modules are suitable for use in a wide range of industries and applications, such as sports, video surveillance systems and gesture recognition using machine learning.

FRAMOS’ FSM:GO optical sensor modules are compatible with the boards and components in Antmicro’s open hardware ecosystem (block diagrams, component list, 3D renderings) and a comprehensive open source development toolkit that enables rapid prototyping on the way to implementing customized solutions.