FLIR® Systems Unveils Industry’s First Deep Learning Inference Machine Vision Camera

Wilsonville, Ore., October 18, 2018 – FLIR® Systems (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced today the launch of the FLIR Firefly® camera family, the first machine vision camera equipped with deep learning inference capabilities. Designed to integrate Intel® Movidius™ Myriad™ 2 Vision Processing Unit (VPU), this innovative solution is tailored for professionals using deep learning to enhance decision-making accuracy and accelerate system development.

Traditional rule-based software excels in straightforward tasks like barcode scanning or part inspection, but the FLIR Firefly combines an affordable machine vision platform with powerful deep learning tools. This addresses complex challenges such as facial recognition or solar panel quality classification more effectively than conventional methods.

The compact, low-power design of the FLIR Firefly leverages the advanced capabilities of the Intel Movidius Myriad 2 VPU—ideal for embedded and handheld applications. Machine vision developers can directly deploy trained neural networks onto the integrated VPU, while users with existing Intel Movidius Neural Compute Stick setups can easily migrate their models to the Firefly platform. This design reduces system size, improves speed, enhances reliability, boosts power efficiency, and strengthens security.

“Automated image analysis by machines is a fundamental part of our daily lives that often goes unnoticed,” stated James Cannon, President and CEO of FLIR. “The quality, affordability, and rapid deployment of items like smartphones or the food on our tables are enabled by systems using cameras for both inspection and automated production. The FLIR Firefly powered by Intel Movidius Myriad 2 VPU empowers system designers to utilize deep learning more efficiently and at lower costs.”

“Intel’s Movidius Neural Compute Stick allowed us to rapidly prototype machine learning integration into the Firefly, streamlining early development stages,” noted Adam Burns, Director of Computer Vision Products at Intel. “The FLIR Firefly now employs the compact and efficient Intel Movidius Myriad 2 VPU for real-time inference directly within the camera, maintaining the remarkable miniaturization achieved by FLIR.”

FLIR will showcase a preview of the Firefly camera at the upcoming VISION conference in Stuttgart, Germany (Hall 1, Stand 1B42). For further details, visit http://www.flir.com/firefly.

About FLIR Systems:

Founded in 1978 and based in Wilsonville, Oregon, FLIR Systems stands as a world-leading manufacturer of sensor systems that enhance perception and awareness. Our mission is to be “The World’s Sixth Sense” by leveraging thermal imaging and adjacent technologies to provide innovative solutions for security and surveillance, environmental monitoring, outdoor recreation, machine vision, navigation, and advanced threat detection. With nearly 3,500 employees dedicated to our vision, we are committed to saving lives, improving productivity, and protecting the environment.

Last Updated: 2025-09-05 05:27:15