NXP's next-generation i.MX 9 applications processors redefine edge security and productivity

     NXP Semiconductors has released a new generation of applications processors - the i.MX 9 series. The i.MX 9 applications processor builds on the market-proven i.MX 6 and i.MX 8 series to bring advanced performance efficiency, security and scalability to the intelligent edge. The i.MX 9 applications processors will integrate dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) throughout the family for accelerating machine learning applications. The series also marks the first implementation of NXP's Arm Ethos U-65 microNPU, which makes it possible to build efficient, low-cost AI solutions in a wide range of embedded devices. The i.MX 9 series applications processors feature NXP's innovative Energy Flex architecture, allowing developers to optimize energy efficiency, help reduce carbon footprint and extend battery life.

     The i.MX 9 family of applications processors brings advanced performance efficiency, security and scalability to the intelligent edge. Application areas include smart homes, smart cities and public safety systems, fleet management, precision farming and agriculture, consumer electronics audio, healthcare and energy applications that require low-power connectivity and machine learning acceleration options.

     The i.MX 9 series extends machine learning capabilities at the edge for performance-enhancing systems that require low-power connectivity and machine learning acceleration options. Factory and process automation, transportation, robotics, and Industry 4.0 applications will also benefit from machine learning with time-sensitive networking technologies and other industrial protocols and connections, and will be available on select families in this product line. The i.MX 9 family of products will support higher performance graphics, vision and emerging technologies that are transforming edge processing globally.

     The first series of the product line will be manufactured on a special low-power optimized 16/12nm FinFET process technology. In the i.MX 9 processor, the Energy Flex architecture combines heterogeneous domain processing (independent application processor and real-time domain with a separate low-power multimedia domain), design techniques and process techniques to maximize operational efficiency . For example, the real-time domain can provide support for low-power audio use cases, where audio can run while the rest of the processor is off. The real-time domain is also suitable for industrial applications such as CAN networks that require fast startup (less than 100 ms).

     NXP's EdgeLock Security Enclave embeds breakthrough security IP into the SoC architecture, providing a preconfigured security subsystem that simplifies the implementation of complex security and helps designers avoid costly implementation errors. This remarkable advance in on-chip security technology includes self-managing security functions, including chip root of trust, runtime verification, trust provisioning, and SoC secure boot execution. Fine-grained key management enhanced by a wide range of cryptographic services enables advanced attack defense while simplifying the secure authentication path. Additionally, EdgeLock Secure Enclave intelligently tracks power transitions as end-user applications run on the device, preventing new attack surfaces from emerging.

     Secure Enclave will be a standard feature of the i.MX 9 application processor family, providing developers with extensive compute scalability options to easily deploy advanced security across thousands of edge applications. Selected products in the i.MX 9 series will be certified with Microsoft Azure Sphere, extending security from the edge to the cloud.