i.MX 93 processor powers secure edge intelligence

As the first applications processors in NXP’s i.MX 9 series, the new i.MX 93 family combines the industry’s first implementation of the Arm Ethos-U65 microNPU with state-of-the-art security and a high degree of integration to deliver efficient, fast, secure machine learning at the edge, claims the company. These family attributes enable developers to address diverse areas, from voice-assisted smart home and building systems, to low-power industrial gateways and automotive driver monitoring systems.

Systems that can process system inputs to make intelligent decisions locally with a high degree of accuracy are essential for the growth of the edge. To take on these challenges, the i.MX 93 family leverages a heterogenous multi-core architecture, including up to 2x 1.7 GHz Arm Cortex-A55 applications processors and a real-time Cortex-M33 microcontroller sub-system with full access to all SoC peripherals, including the industry’s first implementation of a 256 MACs/cycles Arm Ethos-U65 microNPU. This architecture delivers best-in-class, power-efficient machine learning performance across a variety of applications, including compact, battery-powered IoT devices, which require highly capable and efficient processors to maintain a longer battery life.

The i.MX 93 family is highly integrated, supporting a wide variety of industrial and automotive connectivity interface protocols, in addition to broad multi-media interfaces. This makes it easier for designers to connect the i.MX 93 devices across multiple systems. It also reduces the need for external hardware components and additional design work, decreasing time to market and reducing overall systems costs.

“The world is rapidly accelerating towards 75 billion connected devices by 2030 and it’s crucial to ensure that we’re building energy efficiency and security as well as intelligence into each and every device,” said Ron Martino, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Edge Processing for NXP Semiconductors. “The highly integrated i.MX 93 applications processors will help open an entirely new range of use cases at the edge, where you need to have that close tie-in to the sensor data to make fast decisions. This will enable a new generation of secured, efficient, intelligent devices across IoT, industrial IoT and automotive applications.”

Security peace of mind with NXP edgeLock and azure sphere

NXP’s EdgeLock secure enclave, a preconfigured, self-managed and autonomous security subsystem, is a standard on-die feature across the i.MX 9 series, enabling developers to achieve their device security goals without requiring deep security expertise.

Keeping edge devices secured long after initial deployment is a challenge that requires the help of nonstop trusted management services. NXP has partnered with Microsoft to offer customers a comprehensive chip-to-cloud security solution and more than ten years of ongoing updates and security improvements with the “cloud secured” i.MX 93-CS family built with Microsoft Azure Sphere.

“We’re making it easier for developers to create, connect, and maintain innovative IoT devices by providing a comprehensive platform actively supported by the scale and expertise of Microsoft software, cloud and security experts,” said Halina McMaster, Partner Group Program Manager, Microsoft Azure Sphere. “Together with NXP, we are delivering a variety of Microsoft Azure Sphere-certified edge processors that provide a secured environment for customer applications, critical over-the-air update infrastructure, and more than ten years of ongoing security improvements for every Azure Sphere chip. The i.MX 93-CS chips will unlock opportunities across industries for performance optimisation, sustainability, and safety through new classes of secured IoT devices.”

i.MX 93-CS processors with Azure Sphere are built with Microsoft Pluton enabled on the EdgeLock secure enclave. Pluton on EdgeLock secure enclave is the dependable hardware root of trust – built into the silicon – that enables the full Azure Sphere security stack and lays the foundation for developing highly secured devices for a multitude of IoT and industrial applications.