Advantech and oToBrite Accelerate Robotics Machine Vision with GMSL Camera Technology
9/16/2024
Taipei, Taiwan, September 16, 2024 – Advantech, a global leader in industrial IoT, and oToBrite, a leading provider of vision-AI ADAS and automotive-grade cameras, has partnered with Advantech, a global leader in Industrial IoT, to develop advanced GMSL solutions for Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) on the Intel® Core™ Ultra H/U (Meteor Lake) platform. This collaboration combines Advantech's Intel® x86-based AFE-R360 solution with oToBrite’s expertise in vision-AI technology and automotive-grade camera manufacturing for autonomous driving.
AMRs rely heavily on sensor accuracy and robust computing power to perform real-time object detection to fulfill their tasks and achieve full autonomy. The AFE-R360, equipped with a 3.5" SBC, supports up to 8 MIPI-CSI lanes for low-latency visible camera inputs, along with 3 LAN and 3 USB-C ports for depth and LiDar sensors. This is made possible by an Advantech custom-designed camera I/O card (MIOe-GMSL) and a driver from oToBrite. The AFE-R360 can support 4 GMSL cameras, enabling 360° panoramic view streaming. Built on the Intel® Core™ Ultra (code name: Meteor Lake-H/U) platform, the AFE-R360 features a 16-core processor, Arc™ graphics GPU, and the first processor with an integrated NPU, delivering up to 32 TOPs of performance. With Intel® Core™ Ultra and the OpenVINO™ toolkit, the AFE-R360 is ideal for running object-detection AI models, processing immersive graphics, and balancing power consumption with performance, making it a perfect choice for AMR development.
Until recently, USB or Ethernet cameras were commonly used in industrial AI solutions. However, autonomous robots require low latency, no frame loss, high resolution, and strong noise immunity, making GMSL cameras essential—similar to their use in vision-AI ADAS systems. oToBrite brings extensive experience in manufacturing automotive GMSL cameras, developed through collaborations with Sony and leading automakers. The company has created advanced vision-AI models, embedded system software for various platforms, and active alignment technology for IP67/69K automotive cameras in its IATF16949-certified factory. oToBrite’s expertise in image quality tuning, calibration, and optical technologies is crucial for enabling autonomy in the AMR industry. Integrating GMSL cameras into AMR operations will significantly improve robotic decision-making accuracy.
oToBrite has announced that its partnership with Advantech marks a significant milestone in its strategic expansion into the AMR market. As a leading vision-AI ADAS provider, oToBrite has successfully scaled the production of ADAS systems for major automakers. These advanced systems rely on high-speed data transmission to handle the large data flow from multiple cameras and enable real-time vision-AI processing in vehicles. To meet these demands, oToBrite has integrated GMSL technology in products like L2+ level ADAS and L4 autonomous valet parking. The company believes its automotive experience and cutting-edge technology will enable customers to deploy AMRs with Advantech successfully.
As AMR applications expand into warehouse logistics, last-mile autonomous delivery, and autonomous terminal tractors, the need for GMSL that can transmit uncompressed high-resolution image data in real time for vision-AI perception becomes increasingly crucial. The oToCAM222 series, equipped with the Sony ISX021 sensor, provides 2.5M high-resolution pixels and offers multiple viewing angles (63.9°/120.6°/195.9°), making it an ideal choice for low-speed AMR applications.
Advantech has a clear roadmap for AMR development, focusing on specialized product design, software packages, and partner alignment strategies. The AFE-R360, paired with the oToCAM222, will be available in September 2024. This strategic partnership between Advantech and oToBrite will accelerate the implementation of various AMR applications.
Learn more about AFE-R360: https://campaign.advantech.online/en/AMR-Robotic-Solutions/
Learn more about oToBrite products: https://www.otobrite.com/en/joinus/index/68
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