Real Time Video Processing FPGA board


DOCS
PYNQ is an open-source project from Xilinx® that makes it easy to design embedded systems with Xilinx Zynq® Systems on Chips (SoCs).
 Using the Python language and libraries, designers can exploit the benefits of programmable logic and microprocessors in Zynq to build more capable and exciting embedded systems.  The System on Chip has both an ARM processor based Linux system and a Xilinx Zynq FPGA.

PYNQ uses CPython which is written in C, and integrates thousands of C libraries and can be extended with optimized code written in C.

The PYNQ-Z1 board is an academic version of a Xilinx evaluation board, it is almost identical to the standard product, but the board is colored pink, and had been offered with academic discounts.

 It has HDMI input and output, the available libraries include OpenCV, but there are only 2 functions that have been translated to the FPGA, that run at full frame rate.  One could tackle creating an overlay to accelerate the functions you need performed, but programming PFGAs is challenging, said to be 10x more difficult than an ordinary programming language.
 
A demo, giving a taste of the  FPA accelerated convolution.
It's a little disappointing to see it only achieves 1.5 to 3 fps in Yolo object recognition (depending on screen size).

It's designed to be controlled by Python, (actually Cpython), small blocks of C code may be inserted as well.  To get "Hardware Acceleration" from the FPGA, there has to be an Overlay created for that function in an FPLA dev system.

The PYNQ™ Z2 version, which adds a Raspberry Pi Hat Connector (Upper-right) and better sound processing, this board can be bought from China for $119.

There is some community activity (probably slowed since 2017)

Small list of PYNQ projects and ports 

AVNET Ultra96 Zynq UltraScale+ ZU3EG Development Board $249  (Displayport out only)
 (A cheaper source of the higher end FPGA)

Slideshow: Implementing Deep Learning Algorithms on the PYNQ

Tutorials from Napal


The main stream, non Python product the PYNQs are based on:

Digilent  Z7-10 $149.00   Z7-20 $209.00,   Z7-20 w Zylink Access Voucher. $219.00
"Digilent recommends the Arty Z7-20 with SDSoC voucher for those interested in video processing applications"

https://blog.digilentinc.com/programming-python-on-arty-z7-20/0


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hooking up the 6 + 1 Mic Array to the MaiX BiT

Image
The Risk-V chip on the MaiX BiT board also contains hardware FFT which should make it a respectable audio analysis board.  Sipeed offers a microphone array board with 7 mics and 12 RGB LEDs. Unfortunately the mic array, which SeeedStudio  indicates is for Dock/Go/Bit, there is no real provisions made for the newer BiT board. Included with the mics is a 10 pin ribbon cable for the Go board, and an unadvertised (not on sales page inventory) 5x2 "dupont" connector cable which directly connects between the back of the mic array (not pictured on the sales page) and the Dock board area with mic connection labels silk screened on the board. Some improvising is needed to hook up the BiT.  I offer 2 different solutions. The first that Seeed could help by throwing in a couple of replacement connector housings. Connection Method #1 (You might have to start with a larger housing and cut it down to size) The Seed OPL type for ...
Read more

Holographic Fans Getting Real Time HDMI Input

Image
 One of the technical leaders in so called 3D Holoographic LED Fans is Dseelab, in Sep 2019 they announced at an event the development of real time HDMI Video Input, it may be quite a while befiue it reaches the market.  Achieving this has been my holy grail, looking into FPGA based video processors and examining cartesian to polar code may no longer be necessary... Here's an interesting demo recently posted: Dseelab a leader in the "3D Holographic LED Fan" industry, has master-slave connections on their units, allowing them to be syncronized in an array, they also offer a programming API connecting though WiFi or with a wired serial connection to a PC.  The API supports remote update from the cloud and random play of 256 different media assets. The only other Holographic Fan maker offering a programming API and arrays for large image display is HYPERVSN of  Ireland.  The newest addition to the DseeLab line is their: 6 Blade 78cm, 960*960 res, ...
Read more

LED Driver Roundup

Image
LEDs being current, rather than voltage operated devices require special driver circuits for optimal performance.  While simple applications like an indicator light that might be run at a fraction of it's rated capability, a series current limiting resistor is sufficient.  High power application running at the edge of the LED's max current rating require active regulation to compensate for the negative temperature coefficients of the LED, (measurement techniques are discussed in this university lab paper .) Low power LEDs can be driven with simple series resistor current control when powered from a regulated power supply. The LED Load Line graph be low helps one select a standard resistor value to get the ballpark current setting with a 5 volt power source.  Find where your LED's color line intersects the desired current, then pick the closest resistance line below that intersection. (This graph is from LEDnique.com , a collection of basic articles on LEDs aime...
Read more