NXP OrangeBox integrates wireless connectivity in cars using a single domain controller

     NXP Semiconductors announces OrangeBox Automotive class development platform. The platform integrates a variety of NXP wireless technologies such as radio broadcasting, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth, secure car gating with ultra Wideband (UWB) and Low Energy Bluetooth (BLE), and 802.11p-based V2X. OrangeBox is a modular platform that allows Oems and tier 1 vendors the flexibility to adapt to the needs of cellular connectivity and V2X in different geographies, and enables on-site updates as necessary to keep pace with changing technology.

     This helps speed time to market, reduce complexity, and provide a complete system reference design for application deployment. OrangeBox is a single, security-enhanced, modular development platform that provides a unified interface between a vehicle's gateway and its wired and wireless technologies. As a result, the platform could provide the next generation of cars with a way to safely communicate with the world around them.

     Today's cars are more connected than ever before and can use a variety of wireless technologies to provide drivers with applications ranging from infotainment to advanced safety features. However, the spread of these technologies across the entire vehicle architecture presents a variety of challenges, which will become more acute as more connectivity is added and cyber attack surfaces expand. OrangeBox unifies these current and emerging external wireless interfaces into a single secure enhanced connectivity domain controller, which then connects to the secure car gateway via NXP High Speed Ethernet. This integrated, one-stop-shop approach reduces development effort, optimizes the transfer of data across multiple communication interfaces, provides consistent and advanced security for all incoming data traffic, and simplifies the deployment of V2X and cloud applications such as wireless remote upgrades for software-defined vehicles.

     "By integrating automotive wireless technology into a centralized domain controller that is high-speed connected to the vehicle gateway, we are able to create a single path for the car that seamlessly connects the car to the outside world," said Dan Loop, vice president and general manager of NXP's Automotive Edge Processing business group. This will not only help reduce costs and simplify development processes, but also solve the critical problem of centralized secure connectivity requirements for data-rich vehicles."

     The OrangeBox development platform integrates NXP's leading edge technologies, including advanced application processors, software-defined radio broadcast tuners, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth. They also include secure car gated with BLE and UWB, and 802.11p-based V2X, both of which are protected by certified EdgeLock® split NXP security chips. It also supports 4G LTE or 5G cellular and GPS connections. Carmakers can more easily consistently apply advanced cloud-managed security technologies, such as next-generation firewalls, to protect data traffic in and out of vehicles.

     OrangeBox is powered by the i.MX 8XLite application processor, which runs a unified software platform based on Linux to manage your car's wireless connection. These include NXP Gigabit Ethernet connected to a central automotive gateway, making it easier for other automotive systems to take advantage of integrated wireless connectivity