Science Features Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense and tinyML Breakthrough in Global South
“This $14 chip is only 2.1 centimeters by 1.78 centimeters and can run artificial intelligence algorithms for a variety of uses, from detecting plant diseases or abnormal human heart rhythms to tracking wildlife or environmental pollution.”
TinyML for the Global South: Real-World Applications
This inspiring Science featured story walks us through to a rich collection of tinyML applications in the Global South, creating tangible impacts:
- Agriculture: Researchers like Bala Murugan from the Vellore Institute of Technology in India are using tinyML-equipped drones to detect fungal diseases in cashew trees with up to 99% accuracy. This innovation helps reduce the indiscriminate use of pesticides, saving costs and minimizing environmental harm.
- Healthcare: From detecting anemia in Peru to identifying atrial fibrillation in Brazil, tinyML devices are enabling low-cost, portable health diagnostics in areas with limited medical infrastructure.
- Environmental Monitoring: In Malaysia, tinyML devices are tracking plastic waste in rivers, supporting cleanup efforts and helping protect critical ecosystems like mangroves.
Driving tinyML Adoption: Collaboration and Resources
As mentioned in the Science Story, the rise of tinyML in the Global South is supported by collaborative efforts and educational resources. We’re super honored to contribute our tiny effort to this growing and enlightening journey.
TinyML4D Academic Network: Launched in 2021 by Harvard University and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), this network supports over 50 academic institutions by providing hardware kits, and fostering research and education in tinyML applications. Since 2022, Seeed Studio has been working and collaborating with institutions in the network to offer tinyML hardware kits, and supporting tinyML’s adoption via workshops and events.
“MACHINE LEARNING SYSTEMS” Book: This open-source resource provides comprehensive guidance on developing and deploying Machine Learning (including tinyML) solutions, helping bridge the knowledge gap for researchers and practitioners worldwide. By working closely with Prof. Vijay Janapa Reddi, Prof. Marcelo Rolai, and many other contributors, we contributed to the hands-on practices in the book with Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense, the tiny thumb-sized vision camera kit.
Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense: Our XIAO ESP32S3 Sense is a powerful yet compact microcontroller tailored for tinyML applications. It powers a variety of innovative projects worldwide, including smart spectacles and the ‘Third Eye‘ project for visually impaired users, enhancing navigation and text-to-speech conversion. Other projects include an anomaly detection and motion classification system for personal safety and an audio classification wearable that identifies dog sounds to alert users of nearby animals.
Our Commitment to tinyML in the Global South
At Seeed Studio, we are committed to supporting impactful tinyML initiatives. To better enable researchers,developers, and educators in the Global South, we are offering an exclusive 15% discount on the XIAO ESP32S3 Sense with the coupon code tinyML4GS (expires on Dec. 30, 2025, applicable for orders that contain XIAO ESP32S3 Sense or XIAO ESP32S3 Sense (Pre-Soldered).
Additionally, we encourage academic institutions to explore our Academic Support Program, which provides tailored assistance, hardware sponsorships, and technical support to drive innovation, application, and education in tinyML.
The future of AI doesn’t have to be big to be transformative. With tinyML, we are empowering communities worldwide to tackle big challenges with small, smart decentralized solutions. Join us in advancing tinyML for a more sustainable and inclusive future.
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Global pollution is more and more warning
Awesome, I’m working on a project with the xiao development kit and it’s great!
Glad to hear this. Keep us posted on your project!
Wow!