Why do it
- Responds immediately, without a network.
- Uses very little power, so it can run on a battery for a long time.
- Raw data, such as audio, never leaves the device.
Making a model fit
- Choose a small architecture for one narrow task.
- Quantize the model to 8-bit integers.
- Convert it with a runtime built for microcontrollers, such as TensorFlow Lite for Microcontrollers.
- Measure memory, speed and energy on the real chip.
Limits
Models are small and capabilities limited. Updating them in the field is harder than updating a cloud service, so plan for it. Test on the real sensor data and in the real environment, since a model can behave differently away from the lab.
Sources and further reading
- TensorFlow Lite for Microcontrollers. tensorflow.org/lite/microcontrollers.
IICTP is a new independent credential and is not ISO/IEC 17024 accredited.