Intel Acquires Computer Vision for IOT, Automotive
Intel is converting from a PC company to a company that powers the cloud and billions of wise, connected computing devices. These devices will use the power of Intel technology to process data being generated from “things,” connect to and learn from data being analyzed in the cloud, and produce amazing fresh practices. One of the amazing Internet of Things (IoT) practices Intel is gearing up to produce is autonomous driving.
Americans spend some seventy five billion hours a year driving. Morgan Stanley estimates that self-driving vehicles could produce $507 billion in annual productivity gains – to cite just one compelling benefit. While the possibilities are titillating, the reality requires solving a myriad of technology challenges. Solutions will need to seamlessly supply a combination of compute, connectivity, security, machine learning, human machine interfaces and functional safety.
To win in automotive today and help produce its titillating future, Intel is adding fresh capabilities to our automotive portfolio like functional safety and over-the-air software management. Another key requirement for self-driving cars is the capability to see and accurately interpret surroundings. One of the technologies necessary to support this capability is computer vision.
Computer vision includes methods for acquiring, processing, analyzing and understanding pics from the real world in order to make informed decisions and automate deeds. Computer Vision technology is quickly becoming critical for the future of brainy and connected “things” from autonomous vehicles, security systems, medical imaging and more.
That’s why, on May 25, Intel signed a definitive agreement to acquire Itseez Inc., an experienced in Computer Vision (CV) algorithms and implementations for embedded and specialized hardware. Itseez contributes software tuning and integration in many market-leading products shipping today from cars to security systems and more. This acquisition furthers Intel’s efforts to win in IoT market segments like automotive and movie, where the capability to electronically perceive and understand pictures paves the way for innovation and chance.
Itseez will become a key ingredient for Intel’s Internet of Things Group (IOTG) roadmap, and will help Intel’s customers create innovative deep-learning-based CV applications like autonomous driving, digital security and surveillance, and industrial inspection. Itseez is also a key contributor to computer vision standards initiatives including OpenCV and OpenVX. Together, we’ll step up our contribution to these standards bods – defining a technology bridge that helps the industry budge more quickly to OpenVX-based products.
As the Internet of Things evolves, we see three distinct phases emerging. The very first is to make everyday objects brainy – this is well underway with everything from wise toothbrushes to brainy car seats now available. The 2nd is to connect the unconnected, with fresh devices connecting to the cloud and enabling fresh revenue, services and savings. Fresh devices like cars and witnesses are being designed with connectivity and intelligence built into the device. The third is just emerging when devices will require constant connectivity and will need the intelligence to make real-time decisions based on their surroundings. This is the “autonomous era,” and machine learning and computer vision will become critical for all kinds of machines – cars among them.
Intel is focused on delivering end-to-end IoT solutions addressing devices, wired and wireless networks and the cloud. The IoT future we’re building for our customers is titillating, and the talented team at Itseez will help us get there, quicker.
Doug Davis is senior vice president and general manager of the Internet of Things (IoT) Group at Intel Corporation.