The Raspberry Pi AI Camera Module is the latest addition to the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. It resembles a regular camera module but is slightly thicker due to its built-in AI processing features.
Powered by the Sony IMX500 Intelligent Vision Sensor, this camera module brings exciting and efficient AI processing capabilities to your Raspberry Pi projects.
What is the Raspberry Pi AI Camera Module?
The Raspberry Pi AI Camera Module, powered by the Sony IMX500 sensor and a 12.3-megapixel CMOS image sensor, is a unique addition to the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. Its ability to process data and add tensor metadata directly to images or videos without burdening the CPU of your Raspberry Pi device or requiring an external AI accelerator sets it apart from other camera modules.
Unlike previous camera modules, this AI camera does the heavy lifting regarding vision-based AI tasks. These include object classification and detection functions, making it a game changer for developers working on machine learning projects.
Key Features of the AI Camera Module
The Raspberry Pi AI Camera Module offers some compelling features:
- On-Device Inferencing: The AI Camera Module eliminates external hardware or cloud-based processing requirements, providing faster and more efficient AI operations.
- Integrated Sony IMX500 Sensor and 12.3-megapixel resolution: This high-quality sensor ensures excellent image quality and performance. The resolution makes the device capable of capturing high-quality images.
- Tensor Metadata: The module adds tensor metadata to pictures and videos, enabling more advanced AI applications.
- Sensor Modes: It supports 10 fps at 4056x3040 or 30 fps at 2028x1520 resolution.
- RP2040 microcontroller: Responsible for managing neural network firmware, with 8MB of onboard storage for firmware and weight files.
- Easy Integration: The camera module is designed to work seamlessly with existing Raspberry Pi camera libraries, making it easy to get started with your projects.
Price of the Raspberry Pi AI Camera Module
The Raspberry Pi AI camera module costs $70, i.e., a significant premium over the standard Raspberry Pi camera modules. However, this price difference is justified by the added AI capabilities.
There are two other Raspberry Pi camera modules: Camera Module 3 and Raspberry Pi HQ Camera Module. The Camera Module 3 costs $25 and includes autofocus but lacks AI functionality. The Raspberry Pi HQ Camera Module is priced at just over $50 and is designed for high-quality image capturing without AI processing powers.
The additional cost of the AI camera is justified for projects requiring AI vision. However, the other camera modules might be better to capture still images.
How to Get the Raspberry Pi AI Camera Module
You can purchase the Raspberry Pi AI Camera Module from authorized Raspberry Pi distributors. This camera module has 200mm cables for both mini connectors (used on Pi 5 and Zero) and the standard cable used on other Raspberry Pi models.
You can buy these cameras from online platforms such as The Pi Hut, Pimoroni, or the official Raspberry Pi store for $70 plus local taxes. This AI-powered camera will be a valuable tool for developers and hobbies working on AI-powered projects.