Advantech partners with oToBrite to create low-latency AI for AMRs

oToBrite Electronics Inc. this week announced a strategic partnership with Advantech to co-develop high-performance and cost-effective perception for mobile robots. oToBrite will bring its experience with artificial intelligence, machine vision, and automotive-grade cameras, while Advantech will provide expertise with global industrial Internet of Things.

The collaborators said they will integrate oToBrite’s high-speed automotive Gigabit Multiple Serial Link (GMSL) cameras with Advantech’s AFE-R360 platform, powered by the Intel Core Ultra H/U (Meteor Lake). 

The joint system will enable high-resolution, low-latency AI for next-generation autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), benefiting industries from logistics to manufacturing, said the companies.

oToBrite says GMSL cameras meet industry needs

AMR applications have expanded into warehouse logistics, last-mile delivery, and terminal or yard tractors. In response to this, oToBrite said integrating GMSL technology addresses the increasing need for real-time, uncompressed, and high-resolution perception. The company said its technologies enable accurate autonomous navigation in diverse environments.

As a provider of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), oToBrite has manufactured several vision-AI products for major automakers. Those products rely on high-speed data transmission to handle the large data flow from multiple cameras and enable real-time processing in vehicles.

To meet demand, oToBrite has integrated GMSL technology in products like SAE Level 2+ ADAS and Level 4 autonomous valet parking. The Hsinchu, Taiwan-based company said its automotive experience and technology will enable customers to successfully deploy AMRs with Advantech.

The oToCAM222 series with 2.5M pixels offers multiple viewing angles (63.9°/120.6°/195.9°). The company said this makes it suitable for low-speed AMR applications in challenging industrial environments. The camera offers high-speed, low-latency data processing and IP67/69K-rated durability, said oToBrite.

The company also noted that it 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. 

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Advantech initiates partnerships with other camera providers

The AFE-R360 platform is powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 16-core processor with Arc graphics and an integrated neural processing unit (NPU) delivering up to 32 trillion operations per second (TOPS), enhanced by the OpenVINO toolkit for optimized AI performance, said Advantech.

In addition to its partnership with oToBrite, the Taipei, Taiwan-based company recently initiated a partner alignment strategy, gathering top camera providers to develop systems for the AFE-R360. These include Intel RealSense, e-con Systems, and Innodisk. 

“Advantech is proud to collaborate with Intel and camera vendors to strengthen our AMR solution,” stated James Wang, director of embedded applications at Advantech. “By incorporating MIPI and GMSL interfaces into AFE-R360, Advantech is committed to providing our customers with cutting-edge technology that meets the challenges of tomorrow. These interfaces not only enhance performance but also enable new possibilities in imaging applications across various industries.” 

The offering also includes a 3.5-in. (8.8-cm) single board computer (SBC) supporting up to eight MIPI-CSI lanes for seamless GMSL input, ensuring low latency and high noise immunity essential for autonomous operations, said the companies. It also has three LAN and three USB-C ports for integrating depth and lidar sensors.

oToBrite and Advantach said their combination of AI and advanced GMSL camera technology will enhance cost-effective AMR systems.