Reconfigurable architectures for distributed smart cameras

Abstract

Embedded smart cameras must provide enough computational power to handle complex image understanding algorithms on huge amount of data in-situ. In a distributed set-up, smart cameras must provide efficient communication and flexibility in additional to performance. Programmability and physical constraints such as size, weight and power (SWAP) complicate design and architectural choices. In this chapter, we explore the use of FPGAs as computational engine in distributed smart cameras and present a smart camera system designed to be used as node in a camera sensor network. Beside the performance and flexibility size and power requirements are addressed through a modular and scalable design. The programability of the system is addressed by a seamless integration of the Intel OpenCV computer vision library to the platform.