New OpenVX Extensions Streamline Compute Workloads on Heterogeneous SoCs

The Khronos Group has published two new OpenVX extensions — Target Kernel and Node Command — that address key challenges in heterogeneous SoC computing. The Node Command extension introduces an asynchronous control channel separate from the data path, enabling runtime reconfiguration of vision pipelines (e.g., changing thresholds or priorities) without stopping processing or adding per-frame overhead. The Target Kernel extension allows user-defined kernels to execute directly on remote compute targets like DSPs, GPUs, and NPUs rather than being forced onto the host CPU, reducing latency and freeing the host for orchestration. Both extensions are slated to become core features in the upcoming OpenVX 2.0 release, targeting automotive, industrial robotics, and smart city use cases.