NXP’s i.MX 94 Processors Unveiled at Electronica for Secure Edge

At Electronica 2024, NXP Semiconductors introduced its new i.MX 94 family of applications processors, designed to bring safe, secure, and efficient connectivity to industrial and automotive edge applications. As the latest addition to NXP’s i.MX 9 series, the i.MX 94 family combines powerful real-time processing capabilities with advanced security features, making it a robust solution for the evolving demands of modern industrial control, automotive telematics, and automation applications.

NXP’s i.MX 94 processors address the growing need for seamless, reliable real-time communication across complex environments. Equipped with technologies like Ethernet TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking) and post-quantum cryptography, these processors provide the high-level connectivity, safety, and security needed to manage critical operations in industrial and automotive settings.

Key Features of the i.MX 94 Family

The i.MX 94 family of applications processors from NXP brings a suite of advanced features tailored for industrial and automotive edge applications. This new family is designed to meet the demands of secure, real-time communication, enhanced security, and AI-driven predictive maintenance, making it a powerful tool for modern connected systems.

• Integrated TSN Switch for Real-Time Control: The i.MX 94 family features an integrated 2.5 Gbps Ethernet Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) switch, a first for NXP’s i.MX lineup. This TSN switch allows for highly configurable, real-time communications across diverse protocols, supporting fast, synchronized data exchange essential for industrial and automotive systems requiring precise timing.
• Post-Quantum Cryptography for Security: As NXP’s first processor family to integrate post-quantum cryptography, the i.MX 94 offers advanced protection against future quantum computing threats. This cryptographic capability helps ensure long-term security, making the i.MX 94 ideal for applications needing extended lifecycle reliability and resilience.
• eIQ Neutron NPU for AI Capabilities: The integrated eIQ Neutron Neural Processing Unit (NPU) delivers robust AI and machine learning capabilities, reaching up to 0.5 TOPS (Tera Operations per Second) of performance. The NPU enables predictive maintenance, real-time diagnostics, and AI-driven cybersecurity, helping to reduce downtime and protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats.

Real-Time Processing and Intelligent Edge Capabilities

The i.MX 94 family is engineered with a multi-core architecture and advanced real-time processing capabilities, making it ideally suited for intelligent edge applications in industrial and automotive environments. Its design balances high-performance processing with low-latency operations, enabling devices to perform complex tasks reliably and efficiently.

Multi-Core Architecture and Real-Time Framework: At the heart of the i.MX 94 family is a versatile multi-core configuration, which includes four Arm® Cortex®-A55 cores, two Cortex-M33 cores, and two Cortex-M7 cores. This combination allows for efficient task allocation, with Cortex-A55 cores managing high-level applications, while Cortex-M33 and Cortex-M7 cores focus on real-time processing. The family is further enhanced by NXP’s Real-Time Edge software framework, which supports seamless integration of real-time and application-level tasks across these cores. Compatible with third-party operating systems such as QNX Neutrino and Green Hills Integrity, this framework enables flexible, mixed-criticality operations, allowing developers to select the best OS for specific application needs.

Functional Safety Compliance: To address the rigorous safety requirements of industrial and automotive environments, the i.MX 94 family incorporates an integrated functional safety island and a configurable safety partition. These features ensure compliance with IEC61508 SIL2 and ISO26262 ASIL-B standards, providing an essential layer of protection for safety-critical applications. This robust safety design makes the i.MX 94 a reliable choice for applications that demand precision, reliability, and compliance with global safety standards.

Complex Networking Support for Industrial and Automotive Needs

The i.MX 94 family is designed to meet the rigorous connectivity demands of industrial and automotive applications, with advanced networking capabilities, high-speed Ethernet support, and extensive protocol compatibility. These processors provide reliable solutions for managing complex communication networks across diverse environments.

The centerpiece of the i.MX 94 networking capabilities is its integrated 2.5 Gbps Ethernet Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) switch. This switch supports real-time data exchange, enabling precise and synchronized communication essential for time-critical applications. The TSN switch is compatible with a wide array of protocols, allowing seamless integration into both legacy and next-generation networks. This versatility helps the i.MX 94 family to smoothly fit into existing infrastructures while meeting advanced network demands.

In addition to TSN, the i.MX 94 family supports software-defined networking (SDN) and network virtualization. Compatible with standards such as eXpress Data Path (XDP) and Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK), these capabilities allow developers to optimize network resources and performance for specific use cases. This SDN and virtualization support adds flexibility and scalability, which are particularly valuable for managing large-scale, interconnected networks with varying requirements.

For industrial and automotive environments, the i.MX 94 family also includes extensive protocol support. This processor family handles both traditional fieldbus protocols, such as Profibus and CANopen, and modern Ethernet-based real-time networking protocols like Profinet, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, CC-Link, OPC-UA FX, and OPC-UA PubSub. Its TSN capabilities extend further to protocols like AVB/TSN and Profinet Over TSN, equipping the i.MX 94 family to handle both current and future networking standards in complex automation and telematics applications.

Advanced Security to Counter Future Quantum Attacks

The i.MX 94 family is fortified with advanced security features aimed at addressing both current and emerging threats, including those posed by future quantum computing. By integrating post-quantum cryptography alongside robust security mechanisms, NXP ensures that devices built on the i.MX 94 processors can maintain resilience over extended lifecycles, adapting to evolving security demands.

A key feature is NXP’s first implementation of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) for public key cryptography. This PQC capability shields devices from vulnerabilities associated with future quantum computers, which could potentially compromise traditional encryption. The inclusion of PQC provides the i.MX 94 family with long-term resilience against quantum-based threats, making it an ideal choice for applications requiring sustained, advanced security.

In addition to PQC, the i.MX 94 family integrates the EdgeLock Secure Enclave, a dedicated hardware module that supports critical security functions. EdgeLock’s features include secure boot, secure debug, and system recovery to a trusted state in the event of an attack. These capabilities allow devices to maintain integrity under potential threats, establishing a solid security foundation suitable for safety-critical industrial and automotive applications.

For high-speed secure communications, the i.MX 94 family also includes the EdgeLock Accelerator, a crypto-accelerator designed to support real-time secure messaging at 5G speeds. This accelerator enables high-speed message signing, authentication, and encryption, addressing demanding security requirements without affecting communication performance. The EdgeLock Accelerator ensures that i.MX 94 devices can maintain rapid, secure data exchange, meeting the needs of today’s high-speed connected environments.

AI and Machine Learning with the eIQ Neutron NPU

The i.MX 94 family of processors leverages advanced AI and machine learning capabilities through the integrated eIQ Neutron Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This powerful NPU enables machine learning at the edge, supporting predictive maintenance, diagnostics, and real-time cybersecurity, making the i.MX 94 family a valuable asset for connected, intelligent systems in industrial and automotive applications.

0.5 TOPS Machine Learning Performance

The eIQ Neutron NPU delivers up to 0.5 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) of machine learning performance, enabling fast, efficient processing for edge-based AI applications. This level of performance allows the i.MX 94 processors to handle complex machine learning tasks directly on-device, making them ideal for predictive maintenance and diagnostics. By analyzing data in real time, the NPU can identify patterns that indicate potential equipment failures or performance issues, helping to reduce downtime and improve operational efficiency across applications.

Real-Time Cybersecurity with AI

In addition to predictive maintenance, the eIQ Neutron NPU provides real-time cybersecurity capabilities through AI-assisted intrusion detection. By continuously monitoring data and analyzing it with machine learning algorithms, the NPU can detect unusual patterns that may signal a security threat. This proactive approach to cybersecurity helps protect critical infrastructure and systems from attacks, ensuring that devices remain secure in dynamic and potentially vulnerable environments. The AI-driven security features of the i.MX 94 family offer an additional layer of protection, helping to safeguard connected systems from emerging threats.

Ecosystem Compatibility and Developer Enablement

The i.MX 94 family is designed to seamlessly integrate with NXP’s broader ecosystem, offering compatibility with a range of complementary solutions and developer resources. This ecosystem approach provides developers with a streamlined path from concept to deployment, ensuring that their applications can benefit from NXP’s extensive portfolio of technologies and tools.

Seamless Integration with NXP Solutions

The i.MX 94 processors are compatible with NXP’s PF9455 Power Management IC (PMIC), a co-developed, cost-optimized solution that provides efficient power management for industrial and automotive applications. Additionally, the i.MX 94 family integrates smoothly with NXP’s wireless connectivity solutions, including the IW612 tri-radio module for industrial and IoT applications, which supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth® 5.2, and 802.15.4 protocols. For automotive applications, the AW693 SoC offers concurrent dual Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, enabling multiple secure connections within vehicles to support the shift towards software-defined architectures. Together, these integrations create a robust, scalable platform that meets the needs of complex, connected applications across diverse industries.

Developer Resources

NXP provides a comprehensive suite of development tools and software support to enable rapid deployment with the i.MX 94 family. From eIQ machine learning software to extensive documentation and software frameworks, NXP’s resources help developers accelerate time-to-market. Additionally, NXP’s developer portal offers access to software development kits (SDKs), application notes, and community support, ensuring that developers have the resources they need to efficiently design, build, and deploy applications based on the i.MX 94 family. This level of support allows engineers to focus on innovation, confident that they have a solid foundation for development.

Availability and Contact Information

The i.MX 94 family of processors is expected to begin sampling in Q1 2025, allowing developers to start exploring its capabilities for industrial and automotive edge applications. This availability timeline provides early access for engineers and product developers looking to incorporate advanced real-time processing, security, and AI features into their designs.

For additional details on the i.MX 94 family and other NXP solutions, please visit the NXP website. Further resources, including technical documentation and product specifications, are available to assist developers in the integration process.

For inquiries, please contact NXP’s support team through the website or reach out to NXP’s corporate communications team for more information on the i.MX 94 family and its applications.