README.md

---
license: apache-2.0
pipeline_tag: image-classification
library_name: executorch
base_model: facebook/deit-tiny-patch16-224
base_model_relation: quantized
tags:
  - arm
  - arm-optimized
  - edge-linux
  - executorch
---

# DeiT-Tiny optimized for Arm-based Edge Linux

DeiT-Tiny optimized with INT8 post-training quantization and exported to ExecuTorch `.pte` format for efficient image classification inference on Arm-based Edge Linux systems.

## Summary

DeiT-Tiny optimized with INT8 post-training quantization for most eligible operations, while patch-embedding operations remain in FP32, and exported to ExecuTorch `.pte` format for efficient image classification inference on Arm-based Edge Linux systems.

This repository contains an Arm-optimized version of facebook/deit-tiny-patch16-224 for image classification. The model is provided in ExecuTorch `.pte` format, targeting Edge Linux systems.

This version is intended to demonstrate efficient inference on Arm-based platforms while preserving the original model's intended behavior. Arm has evaluated this model on ImageNet-1k and measured performance on a representative evaluation target.

**Key results**

| Area | Result |
|---|---|
| Model format | ExecuTorch `.pte` |
| Target device class | Edge Linux |
| Reference device | Raspberry Pi 5 (Cortex-A76, Linux Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit, based on Debian 13 "Trixie") |
| Primary performance result | 26.40 ms p50 latency (37.88 FPS) |
| Accuracy result | Top-1 71.36%, Top-5 90.74% |
| Size / memory result | 6.62 MB (3.32x smaller than the FP32 baseline) |

## Original model

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Original model | facebook/deit-tiny-patch16-224 |
| Original source | Hugging Face |
| Original developer | Meta |
| Original model card | [facebook/deit-tiny-patch16-224](https://huggingface.co/facebook/deit-tiny-patch16-224) |
| Original license | [Apache-2.0](https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0) |

## Model files

| File | Description |
|---|---|
| `deit_raspberry_executorch_optimized.pte` | Arm-optimized model for deployment |
| `example.py` | Minimal inference example |
| `pyproject.toml` | Pinned runtime dependencies for `example.py`, resolved with uv |
| `uv.lock` | Locked dependency resolution for `pyproject.toml` |
| `config.yaml` | Model I/O contract used by the example |
| `benchmarks/` | FP32 baseline and Arm-optimized benchmark records |

## Performance

Performance was measured on the reference configuration below. Results are intended to make the optimization reproducible but do not guarantee identical performance on every Arm-based system.

**Reference configuration**

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Device / platform | Raspberry Pi 5 |
| CPU / accelerator | Cortex-A76 (arm64, 4 cores, 2.4 GHz) |
| OS | Linux, Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit, based on Debian 13 "Trixie" |
| Runtime | ExecuTorch 1.1.0 |
| Backend / delegate | XNNPACK, KleidiAI |
| Batch size | 1 |
| Precision | Mostly INT8 (per-channel symmetric weights, per-tensor affine activations); patch-embedding operations remain in FP32 |
| Runs | 10 warmup, 100 measured |

**Performance results**

| Metric | Original / baseline | Arm-optimized | Improvement |
|---|---:|---:|---:|
| p50 latency | 35.34 ms | 26.40 ms | 1.34x |
| p90 latency | 35.48 ms | 26.60 ms | 1.33x |
| Model size | 22.00 MB | 6.62 MB | 3.32x smaller |
| Peak memory | 31.16 MB | 18.38 MB | 1.70x less |

## Accuracy

Accuracy was evaluated using the same preprocessing, input resolution, and evaluation protocol described below. Where possible, the optimized model is compared against the original model under the same evaluation conditions.

**Evaluation setup**

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Dataset | ImageNet-1k |
| Split | val |
| Number of samples | 50000 |
| Metric(s) | Top-1 accuracy, Top-5 accuracy |
| Evaluation runtime | ExecuTorch |

**Accuracy results**

| Metric | Original / baseline | Arm-optimized | Change |
|---|---:|---:|---:|
| Top-1 accuracy | 72.13% | 71.36% | -0.77 pp |
| Top-5 accuracy | 91.13% | 90.74% | -0.39 pp |

Accuracy was measured using the evaluation setup described above. Users should re-evaluate the model on their own data before production use.

## Arm optimization approach

Arm optimized this model for efficient inference on Arm-based platforms using a hardware-aware conversion and validation flow.

For this release, Arm used:

| Optimization area | Applied? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Model conversion | Yes | Converted to ExecuTorch `.pte` |
| Quantization | Yes | Quantized to INT8 via static PTQ — per-channel symmetric weights, per-tensor affine activations — calibrated on 1,000 ImageNet-1k samples. Patch-embedding operations were excluded from quantization and remain in FP32, to keep accuracy within acceptable ranges, because quantizing them produces static transpose graph patterns that XNNPACK cannot compile |
| Runtime/backend selection | Yes | XNNPACK with KleidiAI |
| Graph/runtime compatibility updates | Yes | Performed as part of the ExecuTorch export pipeline |
| Accuracy validation | Yes | Compared against the original model or published baseline |
| Performance validation | Yes | Measured on the reference Arm platform |

The goal of this process is to improve deployment characteristics such as latency, memory use, model size, and runtime compatibility while preserving the model's intended behavior. Detailed conversion scripts, calibration configuration, or backend-specific implementation details may be provided separately where appropriate.

## Using this model

### Install dependencies

Dependencies are declared in `pyproject.toml`, which ships with this repository. Resolve and install them into a local virtual environment with uv:

```bash
uv python install
uv sync --frozen
```

### Run the example

```bash
uv run example.py
```

### Expected input

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Input shape | [1, 3, 224, 224] |
| Input type | float32 |
| Input range | [0.0, 1.0] |
| Preprocessing | Resize shortest edge to 256 (bicubic), center crop to 224x224, convert to tensor, normalize with ImageNet mean/std |

### Expected output

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Output shape | [1, 1000] |
| Output type | Raw class logits (unnormalized) |
| Postprocessing | Softmax, then top-5 |

## Intended use

This model is intended for developers evaluating image classification workloads on Arm-based platforms. It is suitable as a reference implementation for benchmarking, prototyping, and integration exploration.

## Limitations

- Performance depends on the target device, runtime version, backend/delegate support, memory configuration, and system load.
- Accuracy was evaluated on ImageNet-1k val and may not generalize to all domains.
- This release preserves the original model's intended task and behavior, but users should validate it for their own application, data, and deployment environment.
- This repository is not a replacement for the original model documentation.

## Additional notes

- Sample input: `sample_input.jpg` is derived from [Samoyed on Beach](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Samoyed_on_Beach.jpg) by Appleinfl, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

## About this version

Original Model:
facebook/deit-tiny-patch16-224 by Meta - [Repository](https://huggingface.co/facebook/deit-tiny-patch16-224)

Optimization/conversion:
Arm-Optimized version for execution on Arm-based platforms.

Converted/optimized by:
Arm

License:
The Original Model and the Optimized Model are subject to [Apache-2.0](https://huggingface.co/datasets/choosealicense/licenses/blob/main/markdown/apache-2.0.md).

This repository contains a converted or optimized version of the Original Model (the “Optimized Model”). The Original Model has been converted or optimized as described above for execution on Arm-based platforms.

No retraining or fine-tuning of the Original Model was performed as part of the conversion or optimization. The conversion or optimization was not intended to change the Original Model’s behavior or intended use.

### Original Model and Documentation

For information about the Original Model, including its development, training data, intended uses, limitations and other relevant information, please refer to the [Original Model repository](https://huggingface.co/facebook/deit-tiny-patch16-224). Information in that repository was provided by the original developer or other third parties and, unless expressly stated otherwise, has not been independently verified by Arm.

### Licenses and Third-Party Terms

Use of the Original Model and the Optimized Model is subject to the applicable licenses, usage restrictions and other terms identified above and in the relevant repositories. Publication of the Optimized Model does not grant any rights beyond those provided under the applicable license terms.

You are responsible for reviewing those terms and ensuring that your use of the Original Model and the Optimized Model is permitted.

### Purpose of this Release

The Optimized Model is provided as a reference implementation to demonstrate and evaluate execution and performance on Arm-based systems. It is not a production-ready or supported solution.

Arm’s publication of the Optimized Model does not constitute an endorsement or certification of the Original Model or a representation that the Optimized Model is suitable for production use or any particular purpose.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (i) the Optimized Model is provided “as is.” Arm makes no representations or warranties that the Original Model, the Optimized Model or their outputs are accurate, safe, secure, non-infringing, legally compliant, suitable for production use or fit for any particular purpose; and (ii) Arm will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from or in connection with the Optimized Model, its use or its outputs.

You are responsible for independently evaluating the Optimized Model, its outputs and its suitability for your intended use, including compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, safety and security requirements.

Arm does not commit to provide ongoing support, maintenance or updates for the Optimized Model. Any use of or reliance on the Optimized Model or its outputs is at your own risk.