USB UVC Cam Integration on AOSP Android

Job ID: 40134184

Budget: $700 – $1,000 USD

Android AOSP – External USB Camera as System Camera (Pixel 8a)

I’m looking for an Android developer with AOSP / framework experience to deliver a fully functional solution for using an external USB UVC capture card as the system camera on a Pixel device.

This project prioritizes functionality and reliability, not architectural perfection.

Target setup

Device: Pixel 8a

Android: 15 or 16 (currently running Android 16; downgrade acceptable if needed)

External camera: USB UVC video capture card

Video source comes from a Windows PC (OBS or vMix)

Current situation

The USB capture card works and video is received on the Pixel using a dedicated app.

However, the device does NOT expose the capture card as a system Camera2 camera.

The External Camera Provider is not yet integrated in the current build.

Required outcome (functional)

The external USB UVC capture card must be exposed as a system camera

Visible through Camera2 / CameraX / WebView / browser camera APIs

Usable by standard apps without custom USB handling

Once exposed as a system camera:

All internal cameras must be hidden from apps

The system must expose only two camera IDs:

0 = BACK

1 = FRONT

Both IDs must resolve to the same external USB camera

What is acceptable

AOSP framework modifications

CameraService / CameraProvider changes

Device-specific or Pixel-specific patches

Practical or non-elegant implementations

Any approach that achieves the required behavior system-wide

What is NOT required

Upstream-ready patches

Clean or generic architecture

Support for multiple devices

Deliverables

Clear patches or diffs and build / flash instructions,
or a flashable build for Pixel 8a

Proof of functionality (Camera2 enumeration and app usage)

Requirements

Real experience working with Android camera framework internals

Ability to integrate External Camera Provider and control camera enumeration

Focus on getting a working result quickly

Budget

Open / negotiable

Payment is for a working functional result, not for attempts

Objective

Deliver a working solution as soon as possible

Make it reproducible

Close this problem definitively

If you know how to expose an external USB UVC capture card as the only front and back cameras on a Pixel device, this project is for you.