Design and Implementation of an Embedded Image Processing System on Zynq ZedBoard: A VLSI Perspective

Abstract

The increasing demand for real-time image processing in embedded systems has driven the integration of programmable logic with processing systems. This paper presents the design and implementation of an embedded image processing system on the Xilinx Zynq-7000 ZedBoard, targeting efficient computation through hardware-software co-design. Using the dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 and the programmable logic (FPGA), computationally intensive image processing algorithms such as filtering, edge detection, and thresholding are offloaded to custom hardware accelerators designed in VHDL/Verilog. The system is evaluated in terms of resource utilization, latency, and power consumption, offering a comprehensive VLSI-level insight into performance versus flexibility trade-offs. The results demonstrate the potential of Zynq-based systems in real-time vision applications, emphasizing design methodologies relevant to modern VLSI implementations.

Introduction

This paper presents the design and implementation of a real-time, power-efficient embedded image processing system using the Xilinx Zynq-7000 SoC and ZedBoard. The system combines a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor (Processing System, PS) with FPGA fabric (Programmable Logic, PL) to accelerate image processing tasks via a hardware-software co-design approach.

Key Highlights:

? Motivation:

Modern applications like object detection, surveillance, and autonomous navigation require:

• Real-time processing

• Low power consumption

• Compact and efficient hardware

Traditional software-based systems fall short due to computational complexity. FPGAs offer high parallelism and throughput, while Zynq SoC adds flexibility by combining software and custom hardware.

System Overview:

• Hardware-Software Partitioning:

  • PS (ARM CPU): Manages control tasks, I/O, and system-level logic.

  • PL (FPGA): Implements image processing accelerators (e.g., grayscale, Sobel edge detection, Gaussian filtering, thresholding).

• AXI Interface: Facilitates high-speed communication between PS and PL.

• Vivado Tools: Used for design, simulation, synthesis, and IP core integration.

Image Processing Pipeline:

1. Grayscale Conversion: Simplifies processing by converting RGB images to single-channel intensity using a weighted formula.

2. Edge Detection (Sobel Filter): Detects high-frequency edges using convolution in FPGA with pipelining and buffers.

3. Optional Filtering (Gaussian Blur): Reduces noise before edge detection using a weighted kernel.

4. Thresholding: Converts grayscale/edge images to binary for tasks like segmentation and object detection.

Performance & Results:

• Real-time Processing: FPGA acceleration significantly reduces latency compared to software-only systems.

• Efficient Resource Use: Custom IP cores optimized for LUTs, DSPs, and BRAM.

• Low Power Consumption: Hardware execution reduces energy usage—ideal for mobile/portable devices.

• High Image Quality: Sobel and thresholding modules accurately detect edges and segment objects.

Applications:

• Robotics: Object detection, navigation, and vision-based decision-making.

• Surveillance & Security: Real-time motion and face detection.

• Healthcare: Medical imaging and patient monitoring.

• Smart Cities & Industry: Traffic monitoring, license plate recognition, and automated inspection.

Limitations:

• Resource Constraints: Limited FPGA fabric may struggle with high-resolution images or complex pipelines.

• Design Complexity: Developing custom IP requires deep VHDL/Verilog and hardware expertise.

• Scalability Issues: More advanced tasks (e.g., ML, 4K video) may exceed current hardware capabilities.

• Memory Bottlenecks: High-resolution data processing is limited by bandwidth and latency.

Conclusion

The embedded image processing system implemented on the Zynq ZedBoard successfully demonstrated the advantages of combining ARM processing with FPGA-based hardware acceleration for real-time image processing applications. By offloading computationally intensive tasks to the FPGA, the system achieved significant improvements in speed and power efficiency, making it suitable for embedded vision applications with real-time requirements. The flexibility of the Zynq platform, along with its efficient use of resources, ensures that it can handle a range of basic image processing tasks effectively, such as edge detection and thresholding, with a compact and energy-efficient design. Looking ahead, future work can focus on addressing the limitations of the current system, such as optimizing memory management and resource usage to handle higher resolution images and more complex image processing algorithms. Incorporating advanced techniques like object recognition, machine learning, or video processing would expand the system\'s applicability to more sophisticated use cases. Additionally, exploring more powerful FPGA platforms or distributed architectures may allow for greater scalability, enabling the system to process higher-definition video or multi-frame streams in real time. Continued research and development in these areas will help unlock the full potential of hybrid ARM-FPGA platforms for embedded vision systems.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Anushka ., Kanika Jindal , Ashtosh Kumar Singh. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.