Libellula v10.3

Neuromorphic Optical Flow Processor
Event-Based Vision for Next-Generation Applications
30ns
Processing Latency
1000×
Faster Than Traditional Vision
200MHz
Operating Frequency

Revolutionary Technology

The Libellula v10.3 IP module represents a breakthrough in vision processing technology. Designed for Event-Based Vision (AER) sensors, it processes asynchronous light intensity changes in real-time—unlike conventional frame-based cameras that capture snapshots at 30-60 Hz.

Key Advantage: Bio-inspired architecture based on Reichardt Detectors, mimicking how dragonflies and flies intercept prey with incredible precision and speed.

Performance Comparison

Standard Computer Vision: 20-40 milliseconds latency
Libellula v10.3: 0.00003 milliseconds latency

Result: Reaction times 1,000× to 10,000× faster than traditional vision systems, using a fraction of the power—no GPU required, only efficient fixed-point logic.

Commercial Applications

The Libellula v10.3 module addresses critical needs in the rapidly expanding Edge AI ecosystem, enabling breakthrough performance in:

AR/VR Headsets (XR)

Challenge: Latency causes motion sickness in VR environments.

Solution: Sub-microsecond eye-tracking and hand-tracking enable immediate rendering adjustments, eliminating lag-induced discomfort.

Power Advantage: Activity-scaled power consumption extends battery life in portable devices.

Industrial Automation

Challenge: Standard cameras blur fast-moving objects on production lines.

Solution: Tracks motion without blur at high speeds, enabling defect detection and counting for pills, components, or products moving at extreme velocities.

Automotive Safety (ADAS)

Challenge: Vehicles travel several meters during standard camera frame delays.

Solution: Instant detection of movement enables faster reaction to pedestrians and obstacles, potentially reducing stopping distance by meters.

Robotics & Drones

Challenge: GPS-free navigation and stable hovering require precise motion tracking.

Solution: Optical flow data (dir_x, dir_y outputs) enables Visual Odometry and SLAM for indoor navigation and stable flight control.

Defense & Military Applications

Optimized for "SWaP" (Size, Weight, and Power) critical applications where reaction time can mean the difference between mission success and failure:

Hypersonic Interceptors

At Mach 5+, standard 60Hz cameras miss targets entirely between frames. The 30ns latency enables terminal guidance for high-velocity munitions and interceptors.

GPS-Denied Navigation

When GPS is jammed, autonomous systems use optical flow to navigate by tracking ground texture. This lightweight IP enables small UAVs and loitering munitions to operate autonomously.

Active Protection Systems

Vehicle APS systems must intercept incoming RPGs in milliseconds. Ultra-low latency is critical for calculating intercept solutions within the narrow engagement window.

Hostile Fire Indication

Event cameras excel at detecting rapid temporal changes like muzzle flashes. This IP instantly filters and pinpoints shooter locations (x_hat, y_hat coordinates).

Technical Excellence

Implementation Advantages

  • Synthesizable Design: Clean, modular Verilog optimized for FPGA and ASIC implementation
  • No Heavy Dependencies: No floating-point units or complex OS requirements
  • Area-Optimized: Time-multiplexed architecture (lif_tile_tmux) reduces silicon footprint
  • Cost-Effective Manufacturing: Single logic block manages multiple pixel states
  • Power Efficient: Activity-scaled power consumption validated in testbenches
  • Proven Performance: 6-cycle latency at 200 MHz clock frequency