Helios is a small, configurable computer with the components and computational power needed for performing the image processing essential to real-time vision.

The heart of the system is a Xilinx Virtex-4 FX FPGA with a PowerPC embedded processor. Through its interface connector, the system can be connected directly to one or more image sensors as well as an enormous variety of other sensors and devices. Yet, at 3.5 inches long, the board is small enough to fit in some of the smallest autonomous vehicles.

The Helios platform can be used as the sole computing platform for the intelligent control of a variety of autonomous vehicles, including small UAVs and ground vehicles.