AN 1011: TinyML Applications in Altera FPGAs Using LiteRT for Microcontrollers

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ID 848984
Date 4/07/2025
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. Overview 2. Preparing LiteRT Inference Model 3. Generating Nios® V Processor System 4. Generating Arm Processor System 5. Programming and Running 6. Appendix 7. Document Revision History for the AN 1011: TinyML Applications in Altera FPGAs Using LiteRT for Microcontrollers
1. Overview x
1.1. Requirements
2. Preparing LiteRT Inference Model x
2.1. Defining the Problem 2.2. Gathering and Preparing Sample Data 2.3. Building TensorFlow Model 2.4. Preparing the LiteRT Model 2.5. Preparing Binaries for C/C++
2.2. Gathering and Preparing Sample Data x
2.2.1. Preparing Dataset 2.2.2. Preprocessing Dataset
2.3. Building TensorFlow Model x
2.3.1. Constructing Model Architecture 2.3.2. Configuring Model 2.3.3. Training Model 2.3.4. Evaluating the Model 2.3.5. Saving and Loading Model
2.4. Preparing the LiteRT Model x
2.4.1. Converting into LiteRT Model 2.4.2. Saving the LiteRT Model 2.4.3. Analyzing the LiteRT Model 2.4.4. Loading a LiteRT Interpreter 2.4.5. Evaluating the LiteRT Model
2.5. Preparing Binaries for C/C++ x
2.5.1. Converting LiteRT to a C Array 2.5.2. Preparing a Header File for LiteRT C Array 2.5.3. Preparing Supporting Header File for LiteRT C Array 2.5.4. Preparing Main Function to Run TinyML 2.5.5. Converting MNIST Sample into C Array
3. Generating Nios® V Processor System x
3.1. Building Hardware Design in Platform Designer 3.2. Building Software Design with Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs
3.2. Building Software Design with Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs x
3.2.1. Creating a Board Support Package 3.2.2. Building LiteRT for Microcontroller Static Library 3.2.3. Creating an Application Project File 3.2.4. Building the LiteRT TinyML Application
4. Generating Arm Processor System x
4.1. GHRD Hardware Design 4.2. Building the Software Design
4.2. Building the Software Design x
4.2.1. Arm-Trusted-Firmware 4.2.2. Building LiteRT for Microcontrollers Static Library 4.2.3. Zephyr OS Environment Setup 4.2.4. Building the LiteRT TinyML Application
4.2.1. Arm-Trusted-Firmware x
4.2.1.1. Booting from QSPI Flash 4.2.1.2. Running through Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs Debugger
5. Programming and Running x
5.1. Nios® V Processor System 5.2. Arm HPS Processor System
5.2. Arm HPS Processor System x
5.2.1. Booting from QSPI 5.2.2. Booting via the Debugger
6. Appendix x
6.1. main.cc for Nios V Processor 6.2. main.cc for Arm HPS Processor
1. Overview
2. Preparing LiteRT Inference Model
3. Generating Nios® V Processor System
4. Generating Arm Processor System
5. Programming and Running
6. Appendix
7. Document Revision History for the AN 1011: TinyML Applications in Altera FPGAs Using LiteRT for Microcontrollers

3.2.3. Creating an Application Project File

Application Project (APP) stores the software TinyML application for Nios® V/g processor system.

Follow these steps to create an application project file:

  1. In <Working directory>/software/app folder, copy the following LiteRT for Microcontrollers libraries from tflite_app.
    1. signal
    2. tensorflow
    3. third_party
  2. Create a new folder in app called image_classification (or any preferred name).
  3. Navigate into the image_classification folder, create two folders named image and model, and upload the main.cc binary (Refer to the examples in Appendix).
  4. In image folder, store the MNIST C array samples.
  5. In model folder, store the model_data.cc, model_data.h and model_settings.h source codes.
  6. Launch the Nios® V Command Shell.
    $ niosv-shell
  7. Execute the command below to generate an application CMakeLists.txt.
    $ niosv-app --bsp-dir=software/bsp --app-dir=software/app \
--srcs-recursive=software/app/image_classification,\
software/app/signal,\
software/app/tensorflow \
--incs=software/app,\
software/app/image_classification/model,\
software/app/image_classification/image,\
software/app/tensorflow,\
software/app/third_party/flatbuffers/include,\
software/app/third_party/gemmlowp,\
software/app/third_party/kissfft,\
software/app/third_party/ruy
Figure 16. Content of app Folder with Generated CMakeLists File
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