Among the challenges facing artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous vehicle developers is the need to process mages for training neural networks. IDS NXT ocean from Imaging Development Systems GmbH is intended to make it easier for users who are not AI experts to classify images.

IDS NXT ocean includes camera hardware, a self-developed AI core, and intuitive training software, said Obersulm, Germany-based IDS. Along with support, this all-in-one offering is unique in the image-processing market, claimed the company. Users need only their application expertise and sample images to create a neural network, it said.

With the help of the IDS NXT lighthouse cloud software, even non-experts without prior knowledge of AI or camera programming can train an AI classifier with their own image data, said IDS. All functions and the necessary infrastructure for creating the neural network are available through a Web-based interface. This means that users do not have to set up their own development environments first, but can start training their own neural networks right away, the company said.

Doing so involves three basic steps: uploading sample images, labeling the images, and then starting the fully automatic training. The generated network can then be executed directly on the IDS NXT industrial cameras, turning them into powerful inference cameras.

Inference cameras ready for industrial applications

An inference camera can apply the “knowledge” acquired through deep learning to new data, said IDS. This makes it possible to automatically solve tasks that would either not be possible with rule-based image processing or would require great effort.

Since the NXT industrial cameras have a special AI core, neural networks are hardware-accelerated and run directly on the devices, enabling inference times of just a few milliseconds. With features such as C-mount, robust housing, GigE network connection with RJ45 or M12 connectors, RS232 interface, and REST Web interface, they are also fully-fledged industrial cameras, according to the company.

IDS said its NXT rio and rome models are now available as serial cameras with different sensors and protection classes.

Starting with the IDS NXT ocean design kit

IDS also offers an IDS NXT ocean design-in kit, which is particularly useful for anyone who wants to test the potential of AI for individual vision tasks. It provides all the components needed for users to create, train and run a neural network in their production environments.

In addition to an IDS NXT industrial camera with 1.6 MP Sony sensor, lens and cable, the package includes six months of access to the AI training software. The use of deep learning-based image processing for individual applications can thus be realized in a short time, said IDS.