Nota AI, a global leader in AI model optimization, has announced a strategic collaboration with Renesas Electronics Corporation, a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions. Together, the companies aim to deliver a high-performance, power-efficient Driver Monitoring System (DMS) optimized for Renesas’ newly launched RA8P1 microcontroller unit (MCU).
The collaboration brings advanced AI capabilities to compact, low-power embedded systems by enabling real-time driver behavior analysis on microcontrollers-crucial for integrating intelligent safety features in space- and power-constrained automotive environments.
Microcontrollers like the RA8P1 are compact computing chips used to control essential functions in devices ranging from vehicles to home appliances and industrial machinery. Leveraging Nota AI’s NetsPresso® platform, the DMS solution optimized for the RA8P1 achieves real-time processing performance of up to 50 frames per second (FPS)—a significant milestone for edge-based driver monitoring.
Powered by Arm® Cortex®-M85 and Cortex®-M33 cores, the RA8P1 also integrates the Arm Ethos™-U55 NPU, delivering robust AI acceleration within a minimal hardware footprint. Nota AI’s optimizations make it possible to deploy responsive, lightweight AI models directly onto these devices—ensuring efficiency without compromising performance.
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Beyond the RA8P1, Nota AI’s portfolio of optimized AI solutions also spans Renesas‘ RA8D1 MCU and RZ/V series microprocessors (MPUs), including the RZ/V2M, RZ/V2L, and RZ/V2H. Key applications such as People Detection, Line Crossing People Counting, and Driver Monitoring Systems have already been successfully implemented across these platforms, showcasing their versatility and readiness for real-world deployment.
The ongoing collaboration between Nota AI and Renesas was prominently featured at Embedded Vision Summit 2025 in Santa Clara. Nota AI showcased its high-capacity crowd counting solution, optimized for the RZ/V2H, capable of identifying up to 5,000 individuals in real time. Simultaneously, Renesas demonstrated its RA8D1-based DMS solution, emphasizing the potential of compact AI at the edge in automotive applications.
“Our collaboration with Renesas integrates their advanced hardware expertise with our optimized AI technologies, unlocking new possibilities for embedded AI solutions,” said Myungsu Chae, CEO of Nota AI. “We look forward to further strengthening this collaboration, accelerating innovation, and driving widespread adoption of efficient, real-time AI in resource-constrained environments.”
“Working closely with Nota AI demonstrates the RA8P1’s potential to support advanced AI at the edge,” said Kaushal Vora, Senior Director of Core Technologies & Ecosystem Enablement of Renesas. “Together, we’re enabling smarter, more efficient solutions across key industrie