Microsoft Azure Percept Kit Brings Easy Edge AI to Developers
Microsoft introduces the Azure Percept platform, a combined hardware and cloud service solution designed to streamline edge AI development. The starter development kit integrates vision and audio modules with Azure's robust machine learning tools.
Microsoft launches the public preview of Azure Percept, a comprehensive platform that pairs hardware with cloud services to simplify edge artificial intelligence implementations. The system leverages Azure AI technologies and cloud tools for device management, AI model development, and data analytics, making it easier for developers to build smart solutions.
The core hardware consists of the Azure Percept DK carrier board, which features an NXP i.MX 8M quad-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and 16GB of flash storage. Developers can attach the Azure Percept Vision SoM equipped with an Intel Movidius Myriad X VPU and an 8MP camera, or add the optional Audio SoM that includes a four-microphone array. ASUS manufactures these hardware components, and the entire system includes robust security features like a TPM 2.0 module and a dedicated STM32 crypto-controller.
The development kit comes integrated with Azure IoT and AI edge services, providing a library of pre-built AI models for tasks like object detection, shelf analytics, and voice control. Users can train and deploy custom AI models without writing code through Azure Percept Studio, which connects seamlessly to various Microsoft cloud services. The base development kit with the carrier board and vision module currently sells for $349.