Hardware-Aware YOLO Compression for Low-Power Edge AI on STM32U5 for Weeds Detection in Digital Agriculture
PositiveArtificial Intelligence
The development of a low-power edge AI system for weed detection marks a significant advancement in digital agriculture, particularly as traditional methods often rely on chemical herbicides that can harm the environment. This innovative system utilizes the YOLOv8n object detector deployed on the STM32U575ZI microcontroller, achieving a balance between detection accuracy and efficiency. With the ability to process 51.8mJ per inference, it supports real-time detection of 74 plant species, offering a promising eco-friendly alternative to conventional weed management. The application of structured pruning, integer quantization, and image resolution scaling allows the model to operate within strict hardware constraints, paving the way for scalable deployment in power-constrained agricultural settings.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System