Introduction

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, machine learning (ML) has emerged as a transformative force. With the Coral USB Accelerator, developers and enthusiasts can now bring accelerated ML inferencing to their existing systems with ease.

In this article, we will explore the capabilities of the Coral USB Accelerator, its technical specifications, and its potential impact on various platforms.

Description

The Coral USB Accelerator is a USB accessory that integrates an Edge TPU coprocessor into your system, enabling high-speed ML inferencing.

By simply connecting it to a USB port, you can leverage the power of the Edge TPU for efficient and lightning-fast ML computations.

High-Speed ML Inferencing

Equipped with the Edge TPU coprocessor, the Coral USB Accelerator delivers exceptional performance. Capable of performing 4 trillion operations per second (TOPS) while utilizing only 0.5 watts for each TOPS (2 TOPS per watt), it excels in power efficiency.

For instance, it can effortlessly execute state-of-the-art mobile vision models like MobileNet v2 at nearly 400 frames per second, showcasing its remarkable speed and efficiency.

Support for Major Platforms

The Coral USB Accelerator seamlessly connects via USB to any system running Debian Linux (including Raspberry Pi), macOS, or Windows 10.

Its versatility ensures compatibility with a wide range of platforms, allowing developers to integrate ML inferencing capabilities effortlessly.

TensorFlow Lite Compatibility

One of the standout features of the Coral USB Accelerator is its support for TensorFlow Lite models.

You don't need to build ML models from scratch; instead, you can compile TensorFlow Lite models to run efficiently on the Edge TPU, streamlining the development process and reducing time to deployment.

Technical Specifications

• ML Accelerator: Google Edge TPU coprocessor with 4 TOPS (int8) and 2 TOPS per watt.
• Connector: USB 3.0 Type-C* (data/power).
• Dimensions: 65 mm x 30 mm.

*Note: The Coral USB Accelerator is compatible with USB 2.0 but inferencing speed may be slower.

Impact and Availability

The Coral USB Accelerator has garnered attention worldwide due to its exceptional ML inferencing capabilities. While the retail price on Amazon at the time of writing this article is $89, it is important to note that prices may vary.

The product has gained popularity among ML enthusiasts, developers, and researchers looking to accelerate their workflows and explore the potential of edge ML inferencing.

Conclusion

The Coral USB Accelerator revolutionizes ML inferencing by providing an accessible and powerful solution for integrating machine learning capabilities into existing systems.

With its impressive performance, broad platform compatibility, and support for TensorFlow Lite models, it empowers developers to unlock the potential of ML on the edge.

As the industry continues to embrace the power of ML, the Coral USB Accelerator is a game-changer that paves the way for innovative applications and advancements in the field.