BitFlow Announces Integration of NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin Module with its Cyton and Claxon CoaXPress Frame Grabbers

Orin with Claxon FXP4

WOBURN, MA, APRIL 9, 2024 — BitFlow announced today that it has successfully integrated the unprecedented computing power of the NVIDIA® Jetson AGX Orin module, which can perform 275 trillion operations per second (TOPS), with the lightning-fast data rates of its CoaXPress (CXP) frame grabbers.

When combined with the NVIDIA AGX Orin Developer Kit, this cost-effective platform empowers engineers to prototype complex machine vision and autonomous inspection applications, leveraging AI accelerated image processing while simultaneously supporting up to four CoaXPress (CXP) cameras and multiple concurrent AI application pipelines. Groundbreaking new applications are more easily developed that augment rule-based machine vision with image-based analysis, making it possible to move beyond “pass/fail” to tasks like image classification, image segmentation, and object detection.

Once proof-of-concept is established, a production model can move forward utilizing an Advantech AIR-030 AI Inference System Box featuring PCI Express x16 and based on the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin. As a result of this innovation, Time to Market and associated development costs are significantly reduced.

50GB DATA TRANSFER
BitFlow CXP frame grabbers connect directly to the Jetson AGX Orin via a built-in x16 PCIe slot. Image data may then be transferred at speeds up to 50GB per second from CXP cameras to the NVIDIA Ampere GPU architecture — much faster than what NVIDIA Jetson users are typically limited to using USB3 or GigE Vision cameras. BitFlow CXP frame grabbers DMA directly into the embedded GPU memory for image capture, pre-processing, and machine learning inference, shifting the load from the host computer to avoid CPU overhead.

Besides faster transfer speeds, the CoaXPress interface allows a single cable to carry all data, control, triggering, and up to 13W of power to connected cameras at lengths as far as 100 meters. CoaXPress eliminates the need for multiple cables and a local power supply, therefore giving the system integrator far more flexibility for their prototype designs.

Seamless integration between the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin and BitFlow frame grabbers is achieved through BitFlow’s Linux AArch64 SDK. With the SDK being universal, not only is BitFlow’s full line of CXP frame grabbers (Cyton and Claxon families) supported, but additionally the BitFlow Axion Camera Link family is an option for customers.

BitFlow BFPython API provides Python Wrapper to Enable Rapid Prototyping

WOBURN, MA, FEBRUARY 23, 2022 — BitFlow, a global leader in frame grabbers for machine vision, life sciences and industrial imaging, has introduced BFPython, an application programming interface that allows engineers with Python expertise to acquire images from BitFlow’s broad range of frame grabbers. Available immediately, these Python bindings wrap the BitFlow SDK’s configuration, acquisition, buffer management and camera control APIs. The download also includes several Python examples that illustrate how bindings can be used.

A free, open source programming language, Python is simple to learn and use, making it one of the most popular languages for developing imaging applications, whether in Linux, Windows or embedded platforms. In machine vision, where prototyping is mission critical to understanding how a proposed imaging solution is progressing, BitFlow BFPython accelerates the building process and reduces final development costs for those experienced with Python code. To further assist in development, BFPython includes several sub-modules that provide convenient interfaces to access features such as CoaXPress camera control (via GenICam), Camera Link camera control (via the CL Serial API), among others. 

Supporting the full line of BitFlow frame grabbers, the BitFlow SDK enables developers to bring high-speed image acquisition into machine vision applications, from cost-efficient simple inspection to ultra high-speed, high-resolution systems. The SDK includes a large number of example applications with full source code for aiding in the understanding the available functions, along with a number of utilities for developing and debugging. The free SDK version is for use with third-party applications such as LabVIEW, VisionPro and HALCON. The paid version is required for users developing their own applications, and offers such high-level advantages as header files, libraries and extensive example programs with detailed source code. 

BitFlow SDK 6.20 Final Release

We are happy to announce the BitFlow SDK 6.20 is now available. This is required for all Axion-CL users and is recommended for Cyton-CXP users. Users of other models can upgrade as is convenient based on product schedules. The SDK can be downloaded from here

Drivers for 3rd party products have also been updated to support SDK 6.20 and the Axion.

BitFlow SDK 6.00 Released

BitFlow announces the release of its latest SDK, 6.00. This new release supports two new products, the Cyton-CXP2 and the Neon-Dif. This release has been undergoing Beta testing for quite some time and passed all internal and external testing regimes. This SDK supports all BitFlow currently support frame grabbers, from the Road Runner (released in 1996) right up to the brand new Neon-Dif (released 2015). This release also supports Windows 10. Go to our Downloads page to get this latest SDK.

BitFlow Announces Support for Windows 10

BitFlow, the world’s leading innovator of frame grabbers for machine vision, semi-conductor and scientific imaging, today announced official support for the Windows® 10 operating system for its entire portfolio of frame grabber products. Microsoft® Windows® 10 combines the speed and reliability of Windows 8 with the professional usability of Windows 7. This new operating system is expected to be revealed by Microsoft on July 29, 2015.

BitFlow adds Windows 10 to an extensive list of operating systems already supported by its Software Development Kit (SDK), including the robust multitasking and multiprocessing performance benefits of Windows XP/2003/2008/Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8.

Windows 10 support requires BitFlow SDK 5.906 or later.