Real-time machine vision system using FPGA and soft-core processor

Abdul Waheed Malik; Benny Thörnberg; Xiaozhou Meng; Muhammad Imran

doi:10.1117/12.927854

1 May 2012 Real-time machine vision system using FPGA and soft-core processor

Abdul Waheed Malik, Benny Thörnberg, Xiaozhou Meng, Muhammad Imran

Proceedings Volume 8437, Real-Time Image and Video Processing 2012; 84370Z (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.927854
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2012, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

This paper presents a machine vision system for real-time computation of distance and angle of a camera from reference points in the environment. Image pre-processing, component labeling and feature extraction modules were modeled at Register Transfer (RT) level and synthesized for implementation on field programmable gate arrays (FPGA). The extracted image component features were sent from the hardware modules to a soft-core processor, MicroBlaze, for computation of distance and angle. A CMOS imaging sensor operating at a clock frequency of 27MHz was used in our experiments to produce a video stream at the rate of 75 frames per second. Image component labeling and feature extraction modules were running in parallel having a total latency of 13ms. The MicroBlaze was interfaced with the component labeling and feature extraction modules through Fast Simplex Link (FSL). The latency for computing distance and angle of camera from the reference points was measured to be 2ms on the MicroBlaze, running at 100 MHz clock frequency. In this paper, we present the performance analysis, device utilization and power consumption for the designed system. The FPGA based machine vision system that we propose has high frame speed, low latency and a power consumption that is much lower compared to commercially available smart camera solutions.

Citation Download Citation

Abdul Waheed Malik, Benny Thörnberg, Xiaozhou Meng, and Muhammad Imran "Real-time machine vision system using FPGA and soft-core processor", Proc. SPIE 8437, Real-Time Image and Video Processing 2012, 84370Z (1 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.927854

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available