AIStorm and Tower Semiconductor Launch Cheetah HS: A High-Speed Imager with On-Chip Neural Network for Inspection, Robotics, and Sports Applications

AIStorm and Tower Semiconductor have introduced Cheetah HS, a high-speed AI-in-imager chip for inspection, robotics, and sports applications. The chip captures up to 260,000 frames per second and leverages Tower's charge-domain imaging platform and AIStorm's analog AI neurons. This technology slashes system power requirements and bill-of-materials cost, making it affordable for various markets and end applications. Key advantages include adjustable frame rate, integrated LED driver, enhanced low light performance, and integrated charge-domain neuron layer outputting pulse streams.

AIStorm and Tower Semiconductor have jointly introduced Cheetah HS, a groundbreaking high-speed AI-in-imager chip designed for inspection, robotics, and sports applications. This innovative technology captures up to 260,000 frames per second, significantly outperforming conventional CMOS sensors by 2,000 to 4,000 times. The Cheetah HS leverages Tower's unique charge-domain imaging platform and AIStorm's proprietary charge-domain analog AI neurons, providing substantial cost and power efficiency advantages.

The Cheetah HS architecture converts incoming photons to charge, computes the first neural-network layer in analog form, and outputs a pulse train that can be processed by downstream networks. This unique approach reduces the bill-of-materials cost and power consumption, making it an attractive solution for various markets and end applications. Key advantages of the Cheetah HS include an adjustable frame rate, integrated LED driver, enhanced low-light performance, and an integrated charge-domain neuron layer outputting pulse streams.

The technology targets multiple applications, including robotics, drones, manufacturing inspection, security systems, and sports analysis. It is immediately available in both chip form and full reference-camera systems, providing designers with a flexible and powerful tool for high-speed imaging and analysis.

References:
1. [AIStorm and Tower Semiconductor Introduce Cheetah HS](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/08/12/3131504/0/en/AIStorm-Tower-Semiconductor-Introduce-Cheetah-HS-World-s-First-Up-to-260K-FPS-AI-in-Imager-Chip-for-Inspection-Robotics-Sports.html)
2. [Tower Semiconductor and AIStorm Unveil Cheetah HS](https://www.stocktitan.net/news/TSEM/ai-storm-tower-semiconductor-introduce-cheetah-hs-world-s-first-up-tpovs39ugbhz.html)