Microchip’s Software DevKit and Neural Network IP Address Smart Embedded Vision

Applications on the network edge where data is collected require power-efficient solutions. Through its Smart Embedded Vision initiative, Microchip Technology is making it easier for software developers to implement their algorithms in PolarFire FPGAs. The VectorBlox Accelerator Software Development Kit (SDK) helps developers take advantage of PolarFire FPGAs for creating low-power, flexible overlay-based neural network applications without learning an FPGA tool flow.

Microchip’s VectorBlox Accelerator SDK is designed to enable developers to code in C/C++ and program power-efficient neural networks without prior FPGA design experience. The highly flexible tool kit can execute models in TensorFlow and the open neural network exchange (ONNX) format which offers the widest framework interoperability. ONNX supports many frameworks such as Caffe2, MXNet, PyTorch, and MATLAB.

Unlike alternative FPGA solutions, Microchip’s VectorBlox Accelerator SDK is supported on Linux and Windows operating systems, and it also includes a bit accurate simulator which provides the user the opportunity to validate the accuracy of the hardware while in the software environment. The neural network IP included with the kit also supports the ability to load different network models at runtime.

For inferencing at the edge, PolarFire FPGAs deliver up to 50 percent lower total power than competing devices, while also offering 25 percent higher-capacity math blocks that can deliver up to 1.5 tera operations per second. By using FPGAs, developers also have greater opportunities for customization and differentiation through the devices’ inherent upgradability and ability to integrate functions on a single chip. The PolarFire FPGA neural network IP is available in a range of sizes, enabling customers to implement their solutions in packages as small as 11 × 11 mm.

Microchip’s Smart Embedded Vision initiative provides hardware and software developers with tools, IP cores, and boards for meeting the thermally constrained and small-form-factor requirements of edge applications. Microchip’s VectorBlox Accelerator SDK is scheduled to be available in the third quarter of 2020, starting with an Early Access Program in June. PolarFire FPGAs are in production today.  

For more information, visit www.microchip.com