NC-SDK-AC

These are the Software Tools to use with the teaching materials “EdgeAI: Principles & Practices”.

NC-SDK software links the Edge-AI world with implementations on Imagination’s PowerVR GPU. This software enables AI algorithms written in TensorFlow Lite to be mapped and optimised on to an OpenCL-enabled (“Rogue Class”/sixth generation & later) PowerVR GPU.

In 2022, versions up to 0.2.1 were used to support the closed-user group trial of the teaching materials on the MediaTek i300A “Pumpkin Board” sold by SEEED Studio. This enabled detailed testing and improvement of the materials.

With version 0.2.2 the hardware platform has changed to the BeagleBone™ AI-64 board and the materials are being released to Teachers and Trainers worldwide.

Version History:

Version 0.1 – Released 5th June 2020
Version 0.2 – Updated 10th December 2020
Version 0.2.1 – Updated 18th January 2022
Version 0.2.2 – Updated September 2022

This version supports the Edge-AI teaching materials which use the BeagleBone™ AI-64 (and previously the “Pumpkin” board). It can also be run on other hardware containing Imagination’s PowerVR GPU such as an Acer Chromebook.

No further updates are currently planned.

In the future, we will move to the NC-SDK Extended version which is available for download in the Tools section of our training and teaching materials page.

This version adds additional features and in future will also support Imagination’s NNA (Neural Network Accelerator).

Please note that the user-interface for this extended version is different to the screen shots shown in the initial version of the teaching materials, and these materials have not been fully tested on this version. For this reason, we strongly recommend starting with the v0.2.2 tools when evaluating and teaching with the first version of the EdgeAI teaching materials.