Embedded AI

A project-driven guide to designing, training, and deploying artificial intelligence directly on embedded hardware, showing how to build intelligent, autonomous systems under real-world constraints.

Embedded AI is a hands-on, hardware-first guide to building intelligent systems that run locally, in real time, on microcontrollers and single-board computers. Rather than focusing on theory or isolated case studies, the book emphasizes practical design decisions and the trade-offs engineers face when deploying AI on constrained devices.

Readers begin with the foundations of embedded systems and machine learning, then learn how to collect, explore, and preprocess sensor data. The book places particular emphasis on exploratory data analysis, feature engineering, and data quality—areas that are critical to embedded machine learning but often overlooked.

Using popular platforms such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, STM32, and Seeed Studio boards, readers work through concrete projects including battery monitoring, hot-word detection, gesture recognition, noise classification, occupancy detection, and intelligent control systems. Industry-standard tools such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow Lite, and Edge Impulse are introduced only to the extent needed to support real projects.

Advanced chapters address sensor fusion, power management, model compression, security, and privacy, helping readers understand how to build systems that are not just intelligent, but robust and deployable. The book concludes with a biologically inspired approach to embedded intelligence using the open-source Primal Layers framework, culminating in an embedded AI robot project.David Such is the Director of Kintarla Pty Ltd, trading as Reefwing Software, where he leads projects at the intersection of embedded development, artificial intelligence, IoT, robotics, and drones. He shares technical insights and tutorials on Medium and hosts the Embedded AI podcast, which explores the future of intelligence at the edge.

He mentors aspiring entrepreneurs at the University of Sydney through the Business Industry Mentoring Program and the Lean Startup course in the Faculty of Business. He also holds a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) and an Aeronautical Radio Operator Certificate, reflecting his interest in autonomous systems and UAV technologies. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles including Managing Director of Serco Australia, executive directorships across multiple Serco subsidiaries, and senior management positions at ADT and Honeywell. His qualifications include an MBA (Strategy), a B.E. in Electrical Engineering, a B.Sc. in Computer Science, and a B.App.Sc. in Wine Making.