NXP Semiconductors has announced its new i.MX 94 family of applications processors, designed to provide safe and secure connectivity for industrial and automotive edge applications. The i.MX 94 family combines real-time processing with support for industrial networking protocols, including Ethernet time-sensitive networking (TSN) switch, making it the first applications processor family to integrate such a feature.
According to Charles Dachs, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Industrial and IoT at NXP, “The i.MX 94 family delivers the high-performance edge processing needed for today’s industrial automation and automotive telematics applications, with the advanced networking, security, safety, and AI capabilities needed to enable tomorrow’s innovations.”
The new processor family also integrates post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to protect against quantum compute attacks, making it NXP’s first applications processor family to do so—additionally, the i.MX 94 family features an integrated eIQ Neutron Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI and machine learning capabilities.
Secure Connectivity for Industrial and Automotive Edge Applications
The i.MX 94 family of applications processors, recently announced by NXP Semiconductors, is designed to provide secure, real-time connectivity for industrial control systems and automotive networks. This new processor family integrates a range of advanced security features, including post-quantum cryptography, to protect against cyber threats and ensure the integrity of critical infrastructure.
One of the key challenges in industrial automation and automotive networking is ensuring the security and reliability of communication protocols. The i.MX 94 family addresses this challenge by providing support for a wide range of industrial protocols, including OPC-UA FX and OPC-UA PubSub, as well as Ethernet-based real-time networking protocols such as Profinet, EtherCAT, and CC-Link. Additionally, the processor family includes hardware support for network virtualization, enabling software-defined networking and complex multicore use cases based on open standards.
The i.MX 94 family also features an integrated functional safety island, along with a configurable safety partition, to support IEC61508 SIL2 and ISO26262 ASIL-B compliance. This makes it well-suited for current and future industrial automation applications where safety and reliability are paramount.
Advanced Security Features Protect Against Quantum Attacks
The i.MX 94 family is NXP’s first applications processor to support post-quantum, public key cryptography, allowing it to withstand attacks by quantum computers. The integrated EdgeLock Secure Enclave (Advanced Profile) provides advanced security capabilities, including secure boot, secure debug, and secure update of the processor based on post-quantum cryptography without compromising performance.
The processor family also features runtime protections, such as expelling an attacker with automatic recovery to a trusted state, or EdgeLock 2GO key management. For industrial TSN and automotive connectivity applications, the i.MX 94 incorporates EdgeLock Accelerator (Prime), a crypto-accelerator enabling fast boot, and real-time, high-speed message signing, authentication, and encryption at 5G speeds for secure communications.
Integrated NPU Delivers AI and Machine Learning Capabilities
The i.MX 94 family includes an integrated eIQ Neutron NPU, which delivers 0.5 TOPS of machine learning performance. This enables predictive maintenance and operator guidance in real-time, as well as defects scanning and machine diagnostics. The NPU provides highly adaptable and scalable security features by providing intrusion detection and protection with machine learning-assisted cybersecurity to keep critical systems and infrastructure safe from manipulation into the future.
Comprehensive Developer Enablement Across Systems Solutions
The i.MX 94 family supports a system-level design approach, including enablement with NXP’s PF9455 PMIC, a co-developed and cost-optimized power management solution. The processor family seamlessly integrates with NXP’s broad, scalable portfolio of wireless solutions, including the IW612 tri-radio solution for industrial and IoT applications, designed to easily connect smart devices across protocols and ecosystems.
The i.MX 94 family is expected to begin sampling in Q1 2025. For more information, please visit NXP.com/iMX94.
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