As technology advances it becomes clearer how it can help us reach new frontiers and improve our existing landscape. NXP is excited to introduce the i.MX 8XLite as the next frontier of creating a safer and more interconnected world of transportation. As this growing trend of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity allows cars to interact better with other cars, transportation infrastructure and pedestrians, it’s important to seek out safer and more efficient ways for increasingly autonomous vehicles to interact with their surroundings.
Think of late-model cars as edge nodes on wheels, fueled by connected intelligence. In this sense, V2X is an IoT application, enabling vehicles to function as edge nodes that can communicate with networks of cars and smart transportation infrastructure. V2X makes “the invisible visible,” warning drivers of road hazards, helping to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities in support of the Vision Zero initiative, optimizing traffic flow, reducing congestion and easing environmental impacts of transportation.
Recent advances in applications processors are helping developers make great strides in designing V2X systems with higher levels of integration, performance, security, power efficiency and connectivity. To address these needs, NXP continues to expand its EdgeVerse™ portfolio of processors for the automotive and industrial markets. For example, the i.MX 8XLite processor, the latest portfolio addition, is purpose-built to support standalone telematics units in automotive applications while enabling seamless, cost-effective upgrades to advanced V2X capabilities.
The i.MX 8XLite applications processor targets a wide range of automotive and industrial applications including vehicle telematics, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) solutions, road infrastructure connectivity, industrial equipment and building control.
Using the i.MX 8XLite as a communications platform, Tier 1 OEMs can combine telematics and V2X functions into a single integrated unit, reducing BOM cost and complexity. Historically telematics and V2X systems have been designed and implemented as separate units. The i.MX 8XLite enables an integrated approach that will help auto makers and Tier 1 suppliers reduce BOM cost and complexity.
The first i.MX processor to include an on-chip V2X accelerator. When using both its high security modules, the i.MX 8XLite is capable of accelerating security operations by at least 4X versus previous i.MX 8X devices, as measured by signature authentications per second.
This exceptional V2X performance frees up the processor’s main CPU to perform other system and application tasks. Powerful, advanced on-die security features include secure enclave, secure key storage, tamper pins, inline encryption engine supporting SM and AES algorithms, V2X-optimized high security module (HSM) and FIPS 140-3 certification, further enhancing automotive security.
The i.MX 8XLite will be available as a single or dual-core device (containing 1-2 Arm® Cortex®-A35 cores plus an Arm® Cortex®-M4F core for real-time processing) providing a cost-effective integration path with minimal BOM cost for applications that combine telematics and V2X. Automotive qualified to AEC-Q100 grade, the 8XLite supports -40 to +125 oC Tj and it’s also industrial qualified at -40 to +105 °C Tj.
The i.MX 8XLite processor is a “radio-agnostic” solution offering the flexibility to support both non-cellular (WLAN) and cellular V2X subsystems. It supports dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) based on the IEEE 802.11p standard running in the unlicensed 5.9 GHz frequency band. A prime example of DSRC connectivity is NXP’s widely deployed RoadLINK™ radio technology. In addition, the i.MX 8XLite supports Cellular-V2X (C-V2X) using 4G LTE and 5G networks including the mmWave spectrum.
The processor’s radio flexibility, security acceleration and other on-chip features make it a good fit for industrial equipment and roadside infrastructure such as smart highway signs and traffic lights. V2X connectivity and monitoring powered by the i.MX 8XLite will take advantage of the growing critical mass of connected cars, smart roadways and smart city infrastructure.
Industrial IoT developers can leverage the i.MX 8XLite SoC in secure wireless, Ethernet and control area networking (CAN) applications such as industrial vehicle management, building control and safety systems, solar power generation, EV charging stations and access controllers.
The i.MX 8XLite offers the security and performance needed to expand the safety benefits of V2X into exciting new realms of unmanned industrial delivery and drone applications.
The i.MX 8XLite applications processor is accelerating the future of V2X and autonomous driving by providing a cost-effective upgrade path from standalone telematics to integrated V2X systems supporting both DSRC and C-V2X connectivity.
Samples of the i.MX 8XLite are expected to be available in Q1 2022, with volume production planned for Q3 2022. The i.MX 8XLite is supported by an extensive NXP and third-party development ecosystem. Hardware and software tools available will include board schematics and layout, Linux® BSP, MCUXpresso SDK, datasheets, a reference manual and hardware development guide.
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Andres is an Electrical Engineer and product marketer. He has worked in the semiconductor industry focused on i.MX applications processors throughout his professional career and is the Global Product Marketer for NXP's i.MX 8X applications processors family in the Edge Processing business.
