NXP’s i.MX 94 family sets a new benchmark for innovation in industrial and automotive technology. These processors redefine what’s possible at the edge by blending cutting-edge connectivity, advanced security, and real-time control.
As the newest addition to the NXP i.MX family, the i.MX 94 lineup caters to industries demanding high performance and robust security. From factory floors to connected vehicles, these processors promise a balance of power efficiency, scalability, and seamless integration, which makes them indispensable for the future of automation and connectivity.
At its core, the i.MX 94 family integrates hardware and software innovations that simplify complex tasks. Whether it’s managing data-intensive telematics systems or powering intelligent industrial controllers, the i.MX 94 family represents a leap forward for engineers and developers looking for scalable solutions.
In this article, we’ll explore how NXP’s latest processors are driving advancements in industrial automation and automotive connectivity while setting new standards in security and functional safety.
Key Features of the i.MX 94 Applications Processor
The i.MX 94 series brings a host of innovative features tailored for industrial and automotive edge processing. These processors are engineered to deliver a combination of high performance, power efficiency, and robust security ideal for demanding connectivity and real-time applications. Here are some standout features that set the i.MX 94 apart:
Integrated Ethernet TSN Switch: Redefining Networking Efficiency
The i.MX 94 is the first in the NXP i.MX family to feature a built-in Ethernet Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) switch. This integration eliminates the need for external switches, which significantly reduces the system’s component count, cost, and power consumption.
- Low-Latency Communication: The TSN switch prioritizes critical data, ensuring real-time responsiveness essential for automotive telematics and industrial systems.
- Energy Efficiency: With NXP’s Energy Flex architecture, the processor optimizes power use, ideal for environments where energy conservation is crucial.
Post-Quantum Cryptography: A Leap in Security
Security is a top priority for edge devices, and the i.MX 94 family leads with advanced protection against emerging threats.
- EdgeLock Secure Enclave: This dedicated security module supports post-quantum cryptography (PQC), ensuring resilience against future quantum-computing-powered attacks.
- AI-Driven Anomaly Detection: The integrated eIQ Neutron Neural Processing Unit (NPU) supports real-time machine learning (ML) to detect zero-day vulnerabilities and potential system breaches.
Multi-Core Performance for Versatile Applications
The i.MX 94 processors are built with a heterogeneous multi-core architecture to balance high-performance application processing with real-time control.
- Cores: Up to four Arm Cortex-A55 for applications, two Cortex-M7 cores for real-time processing, and a Cortex-M33 core for secure system control.
- Optimized for Edge AI: With AI processing capabilities up to 0.5 TOPS, the i.MX 94 supports advanced edge computing applications like predictive maintenance and automated diagnostics.
Energy Flex Architecture: Power Efficiency at Its Core
NXP’s Energy Flex architecture enables granular control over energy consumption and allows developers to optimize for performance or efficiency, depending on the use case. This fine-grained control manages power levels across cores and peripherals for applications ranging from industrial controllers to automotive telematics.
Scalable Connectivity Solutions
The i.MX 94 serves as the heart of a connectivity domain controller with wireless and wired interfaces that includes PCIe, USB, CAN-FD, and SPI for industrial applications, alongside Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 5G connectivity for automotive systems. And, a unified communication hub consolidates all external wireless interfaces to reduce complexity and ensuring consistent cybersecurity filtering.
The i.MX 94 family isn’t just a processor — it’s a robust, scalable platform for developers tackling modern connectivity and real-time challenges. With its unique combination of advanced networking, enhanced security, and efficient performance, it stands out as a transformative solution for industrial and automotive edge applications.
Industrial Applications: Building Smarter Factories
The i.MX 94 family is engineered to meet the rigorous demands of modern industrial automation thanks to its advanced processing capabilities and real-time connectivity features that enable more efficient manufacturing processes.
Driving Precision in Automation
The i.MX 94 is tailor-made for industrial control systems such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), and industrial gateways. Its integration of high-performance multi-core processors ensures seamless operation in environments where split-second decisions are critical.
- Predictive Maintenance: The eIQ Neutron Neural Processing Unit (NPU) delivers up to 0.5 TOPS of AI processing power, enabling real-time diagnostics and anomaly detection in factory equipment. This predictive approach minimizes downtime and optimizes resource utilization.
- Low-Latency Control: With its Ethernet Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) switch, the i.MX 94 can synchronize communication across factory networks to ensure precise coordination between robotic systems, conveyor belts, and other automated components.
Streamlining Connectivity
Factories today require seamless interaction between a multitude of devices and systems and the i.MX 94’s comprehensive connectivity suite bridges gaps between legacy systems and modern networks. With support for PCIe, USB, and CAN-FD interfaces, the i.MX 94 easily integrates with a wide array of industrial equipment — adaptability that’s crucial for factories transitioning to Industry 4.0.
The processor’s built-in Ethernet TSN switch also centralizes data handling, reducing the need for external components and lowering overall system costs.
Ensuring Security in Connected Ecosystems
The i.MX 94’s security features are designed to address growing risks from cyber threats. Its EdgeLock Secure Enclave ensures long-term data protection, even in the face of emerging quantum-computing-powered attacks. And, on-device machine learning models proactively detect and mitigate potential security breaches to safeguard production data.
Sustainability and Efficiency
The Energy Flex architecture of the i.MX 94 family provides developers with granular control over power usage to reduce energy consumption without compromising on performance. Additionally, factory systems can scale processing power based on workload demands to lower operational costs while meeting environmental goals.
With its focus on precision, connectivity, and security, the i.MX 94 family is a pivotal tool for building smarter, more resilient factories and systems that are not only efficient but also future-proof.
Automotive Applications: Enhancing Connectivity and Safety
As the automotive industry evolves, vehicles are becoming hubs of intelligence, connectivity, and safety — and the NXP i.MX 94 family has advanced features designed to power the next generation of software-defined and connected vehicles.
Unifying Connectivity in a Complex Ecosystem
Modern vehicles rely on seamless communication between numerous systems and networks, and the i.MX 94 processor excels as a connectivity domain controller, centralizing data flow across wired and wireless channels. It integrates Ethernet TSN, PCIe, CAN-FD, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G, and V2X into a cohesive platform, and this consolidation reduces both design complexity and costs, while improving the reliability of in-vehicle communications. Additionally, the processor supports over-the-air (OTA) updates, enabling vehicles to receive software enhancements and cybersecurity patches remotely.
Raising the Bar for Functional Safety
Safety is paramount in automotive design, and the i.MX 94 family meets ISO 26262 standards with ASIL-B compliance. This ensures high performance in adaptive braking and lane-keeping systems, and the processor’s heterogeneous multi-core architecture can manage real-time decision-making while maintaining fail-safe operations. Its Cortex-M7 and Cortex-M33 cores operate in tandem with a high-performance Cortex-A55 to execute redundant safety measures and manage critical systems effectively.
The i.MX 94 also incorporates AI-driven diagnostics to anticipate and address issues before they impact performance. This predictive capability enhances system reliability and ensures safer vehicle operation.
Future-Proof Security for Connected Vehicles
As vehicle connectivity grows, so do the risks associated with cyber threats. The i.MX 94 manages those risks with a suite of advanced security features, including the EdgeLock Secure Enclave, which includes post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to defend against emerging threats and protect vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) communication and sensitive onboard systems. The processor’s AI capabilities further enhance cybersecurity by detecting and mitigating zero-day vulnerabilities.
Scaling for the Future of Software-Defined Vehicles
With the rise of software-defined vehicles, scalability and efficiency are becoming key design considerations. The i.MX 94 processor supports this transition with its Energy Flex architecture that allows developers to fine-tune power usage based on application needs. Additionally, the processor’s modular design provides flexibility for automakers to address current system requirements while leaving room for future upgrades.
Partner Ecosystem and Complementary Tools
The benefit of the NXP i.MX 94 family isn’t just about its hardware; it also lies in the robust ecosystem and development tools that support it. NXP has built a network of partners and resources to accelerate development, simplify integration, and expand the processor’s use cases across industries.
A Strong Partner Network
NXP collaborates with a diverse array of technology providers specializing in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and industrial automation, as well as hardware suppliers for companion components like sensors, communication modules, and power management ICs. Together, these collaborations ensure that developers can access pre-validated solutions, and reduce their time-to-market.
AWS, Azure, and other cloud service providers also offer pre-integrated connectivity solutions for IoT and edge devices to allow developers to seamlessly connect their i.MX 94-powered systems to cloud platforms for remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and scalable data analytics applications.
Comprehensive Development Tools
Developers working with the i.MX 94 processors also benefit from an extensive suite of tools. The MCUXpresso IDE delivers an integrated development environment tailored for embedded applications. With its user-friendly interface, extensive library support, and debugging tools, MCUXpresso significantly reduces the complexity of software development.
NXP also provides optimized libraries for AI and ML applications, so that developers can leverage the eIQ Neutron NPU effectively. These libraries include tools for model conversion, optimization, and deployment.
Reference Designs and Developer Support
NXP offers detailed reference designs and evaluation kits for the i.MX 94 processors. These kits, such as the i.MX 94 Evaluation Board, provide a ready-to-use platform for prototyping and testing. Reference designs also demonstrate best practices for integrating the i.MX 94 in specific applications, such as automotive domain controllers or industrial gateways.
And, NXP’s comprehensive documentation, active developer forums, and technical support services ensure that engineers have the resources they need to troubleshoot issues and optimize their designs. Online training resources, including webinars and hands-on labs, complement these offerings.
Building Systems with the i.MX 94
If you’re looking to take advantage of the i.MX 94’s prodigious capabilities, Microchip USA can get you the NXP processors and components you need. Our team of industry experts has helped many companies in industrial automation and transportation source the parts that they need — and we do so with top-notch customer service. So, whether you need a single part, or someone to help manage your supply chain, we’re here to help. Contact us today!
