Ambarella, Inc. announced during CES the latest additions to its CV3-AD family of automotive AI domain controllers?the CV3-AD635 and CV3-AD655 systems-on-chip (SoCs). The new CV3-AD635 supports a sensing suite that includes multiple cameras and radars to enable mainstream L2+ feature sets, such as highway autopilot and automated parking, in addition to meeting the GSR2 and NCAP standards. Additionally, the CV3-AD655 enables advanced L2+ (also called L2++) with urban autopilot, as well as support for additional cameras, radars and other sensors. With the previously announced CV3-AD685 SoC, which targets L3/L4 systems?along with the China-focused CV72AQ SoC?the CV3-AD family now covers the full range of AD and ADAS solutions, from mainstream to premium passenger vehicles. Additionally, this is the automotive industry?s broadest performance range for any software-compatible AI domain control family, spanning an 18x AI performance increase from the CV72AQ to the CV3-AD685. All SoCs in the CV3-AD family feature Ambarella?s CVflow® 3.0 AI accelerator. This highly efficient, proprietary AI engine combines neural network acceleration?including support for the latest NN architectures such as transformers and bird?s-eye-view (BEV) networks?along with general vector processing capabilities for traditional computer vision and efficient radar processing. The CVflow?s high AI processing performance and power efficiency enable CV3-AD customers to design vehicles with rich feature sets based on safe and reliable AD and ADAS capabilities, while reducing thermal-management cost and complexity. That significantly lower power consumption also allows customers to deploy electric vehicles with smaller batteries, reducing cost and weight; or to alternatively increase the EV range using the same battery. As with the rest of this family, the CV3-AD635 and CV3-AD655 are fabricated in Samsung?s advanced 5nm automotive process technology. Ambarella?s CV3-AD SoC portfolio meets the processing requirements for automotive OEMs? entire catalogs, from mainstream to premium models, by scaling the performance of each members? compute engines. For example, the CV3-AD655 offers double, and CV3-AD685 six times, the NN processing performance of the CV3-AD635. Likewise, the CV3-AD635 integrates four Arm Cortex A78AE CPU cores, and the CV3-AD655 eight cores. A dual-core, lockstep pair of Cortex-R52 CPUs is also included in both the CV3-AD635 and CV3-AD655. Additionally, these SoCs target ASIL-B at the chip level, via an ASIL-D safety island. Also integrated on-chip is a GPU to render 3D surround views.Easy portability across the entire CV3-AD family is achieved by sharing the same architectural approach, SDK and tools. Additionally, Ambarella?s full software stack for autonomous and semi-autonomous driving is optimized for all CV3-AD family members, as the stack and SoCs were designed in conjunction. This allows automotive OEMs and tier-1s to leverage engineering investments across their full vehicle line-ups, while achieving high AI performance that supports the latest NNs architectures along with best-in-class power efficiency.

The CV3-AD family?s on-chip image signal processor provides outstanding imaging in low-light conditions, including high-dynamic-range processing to extract maximum image detail in high-contrast scenes. These features enhance the SoCs? AI and computer vision capabilities, while delivering clear video for human viewing. All CV3-AD family members also provide high-resolution video recording and streaming at very low bit rates with efficient H.264 video encoding.