OMNIVISION has introduced the OAX7700, described as an ultra-low-power ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) that serves as an always-on vision (AOV) AI companion processor, designed to upgrade existing exterior vehicle camera systems, such as surround-view systems, into ultra-low-power, edge AI-based parking surveillance systems.
The OAX7700 integrates a neural processing unit (NPU) to support edge AI functions like human presence detection, person and object detection, and distance measurement. In always-on operation mode, the camera continuously monitors the area around the vehicle while consuming minimal power, until an event triggers it to instantly switch into normal operating mode. At that point, it records five to 10 seconds of video captured just before the trigger, known as pre-roll footage, which the vehicle's electronic control unit can then analyze further to confirm whether the trigger was legitimate and activate an alarm if needed. This helps the system avoid false alarms caused by things like wind, birds, trees, or debris, while also giving vehicle owners useful forensic footage if an actual security event occurs.
Parking surveillance systems built around the new OAX7700 consume 97% less power than existing solutions currently on the market. The chip also significantly reduces the processing burden on a vehicle's central compute platform, enabling faster, more efficient decision-making directly at the edge. Because it includes an NPU, customers can develop their own custom AI algorithms on the chip, extending its functionality beyond basic security applications while preserving its very low power consumption. Developers can also push more sophisticated updates to the system over the air.
David Ho, senior marketing manager at OMNIVISION, said the OAX7700 lets existing automotive camera systems gain highly efficient parking surveillance functionality while also supporting modern software-defined vehicle architectures, meaning customers are investing in a system that can be updated and improved throughout the vehicle's lifetime. He said OMNIVISION drew on technology from its security market segment, where the company is recognized as a global leader.
Key features of the OAX7700 include its ultra-low-power vision AI processing with an integrated NPU, support for 24/7 always-on operation, a built-in NPU that enables OEM-developed custom algorithms for human detection, object classification, and distance estimation, the ability to trigger only on confirmed threat objects while avoiding false triggers from non-threatening motion, and stacked PSRAM and flash memory built into a 60-pin BGA package.
The OAX7700 comes in a compact 5.5mm x 3.5mm package. Samples are available now, with mass production scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
OMNIVISION will be showcasing the OAX7700 at AutoSens Europe, Booth 100, taking place September 22-24, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain.
