Live demonstration: CNN inference on the focal plane with a pixel processor array

Abstract

We present a novel method of CNN inference on a pixel processor array device, demonstrating it using a handwritten digit (digits 0-9) classification task, with all steps of the neural network computation performed on the focal plane. The vision chip that we deploy (SCAMP-7) has a 256x256 array of processor elements (PE) integrated within the image sensor. The algorithm runs at over 3000 frames per second (FPS) and over 90% classification accuracy, with the sensor chip only outputting ten scalar values corresponding to the classification scores.