This post is a continuation of my tinyML learning journey this summer that is inspired by the Hackster Eyes on the Edge Vision Challenge https://www.hackster.io/contests/tinyml-vision .
I've been attending as many of the tinyML.org webinars that I can or at least watching the recordings on YouTube.
One that I found particularly interesting last month was the "tinyML Vision Challenge - Intel-Luxonis Vision Platform" video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h55q4IKlsQ.
I've followed Luxonis for a while because of their use of the Intel Movidius Myriad X Vision Processing Unit (VPU). I first encountered the Myriad X in my Tello Drone Tello Drone Intro Blog and later when using the Intel Neural Compute Stick (NCS) on a PYNQ-Z2 Intel Movidius NCS on PYNQ-Z2 . Luxonis makes some interesting Spatial (stereo) cameras that utilize their DepthAI platform. I came close to getting an OAK-D (OpenCV AI Kit) camera docs.luxonis.com/projects/hardware/en/latest/pages/BW1098OAK.html , but never felt I had the time to invest in integrating it with a Raspberry Pi4 and also struggled a bit using the OpenVINO platform for programming the Myriad X.
There have been two developments since I last used OpenVINO with the NCS that caught my attention:
- OpenVINO (Open Visual Inference and Neural network Optimization) now has a fully developed cloud based framework that supports all of Intel's hardware AI platforms. devcloud.intel.com/edge/
- Luxonis has developed a new Spatial AI camera board that integrates an ESP32 that facilitates developing a portable battery powered Edge AI solution. LUX-ESP32 (OAK-D-IoT-40). shop.luxonis.com/products/bw1092
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Luxonis LUX-ESP32
The devcloud based framework removes the complexity of installing and maintaining a local OpenVINO setup that I have had problems keeping up-to-date.. And the LUX-ESP32 seems to be perfect for experimenting with Spatial AI. I was fortunate that as part of the Eyes on the Edge Vision Challenge, I was able get a 50% discount on a LUX_ESP32. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do with OpenVINO and Spatial-AI 
.