NXP has announced the release of the i.MX 95 family of application processors, which are designed to enable advanced processing and machine learning capabilities at the edge. These processors feature NXP’s eIQ Neutron neural processing unit (NPU) and a new image signal processor (ISP) developed by NXP to support machine vision applications. The processors also include Arm Mali graphics and an integrated heterogeneous safety domain, making them suitable for a wide range of applications including automotive, industrial, networking, connectivity, and advanced human-machine interface (HMI).
The i.MX 95 family is designed to meet automotive ASIL-B and industrial SIL-2 functional safety standards, and includes an EdgeLock secure enclave to simplify the implementation of security critical functions such as secure boot, cryptography, trust provisioning, and run-time attestation. When combined with NXP’s EdgeLock 2 GO key management services, manufacturers can securely provision i.MX 95-based products for secure remote management, including secure over-the-air updates (OTA).
One of the key benefits of the i.MX 95 family is its ability to deliver advanced processing and machine learning capabilities, combined with high-speed connectivity, in order to analyze the environment and make intelligent decisions locally. This is critical for the next wave of edge applications in areas such as Industry 4.0, automotive connectivity domain controllers, and IoT smart home gateways. The processors are equipped with a multi-core application domain featuring up to six Arm Cortex-A55 cores, as well as an independent safety domain consisting of high-performance Arm Cortex-M7 and Arm Cortex-M33 CPUs. This allows for the combination of low-power, real-time, and high-performance processing.
In terms of connectivity, the i.MX 95 family includes 10-gigabit Ethernet plus two 1-gigabit Ethernet ports with TSN capabilities, as well as two independent PCIe ports and a USB 3 port. This allows for the easy integration of wireless connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, satellite radio, or 5G. The processors also feature BSP-level drivers for NXP’s wide array of wireless connectivity solutions.
Overall, the i.MX 95 family is designed to enable the development of robust, secure platforms capable of processing local and network data for a range of applications. NXP eIQ Neutron NPU and machine learning application development are supported by the award-winning eIQ machine learning software development environment, and the ISP is optimized for machine vision applications and supports advanced features such as two regions of interest, HDR combination of two exposures, and advanced de-noising and edge enhancement. The Arm Mali GPU capabilities enable a range of graphics experiences, from multi-display automotive infotainment centers to industrial and IoT HMI-based applications.
