An Embedded CNN Implementation for On-Device ECG Analysis

IoT systems that employ AI and neural networks for processing sensor data are usually dependent on an active connection to the cloud, or restricted to simplified models and techniques. By employing a highly optimised Convolutional Neural Network that can be executed directly on our heterogeneous IoT device, we can address both these problems without sacrificing accuracy. Additionally, leveraging the cloud when unknown or uncertain samples are seen allows us to continuously improve the model. Capable of running a “normal” model trained using frameworks such as TensorFlow, we show that our system can achieve accuracy of up to 97% in medical applications such as ECGs. This is done using our device that uses less than 200 mW but can locally process more than 300 heart beats per second.