We launched our FRDM development platform to serve developers prototyping new ideas and bringing innovative products to market. Now, we are expanding the FRDM ecosystem to include i.MX applications processors.
Our first FRDM board to feature an i.MX MPU is the FRDM i.MX 93 development board offering modular hardware, comprehensive software and tools and a quick start experience common to all FRDM development boards. The FRDM i.MX 93 development board unlocks new possibilities for developers in the industrial IoT edge computing space. So, what makes the FRDM development platform special and why did we choose the i.MX 93 MPU as the first i.MX application processor for the FRDM platform? Let's take a closer look.
The FRDM platform’s core tenets are comprehensive software and tools, modular hardware and access to solution-driven application examples. These elements work in concert to accelerate development cycles and simplify the process of moving from prototype to production. FRDM development boards offer a plethora of expansion interfaces, actuators, wireless modules and more.
FRDM is more than just hardware—the total FRDM ecosystem allows developers to design without bounds. They can take advantage of our GoPoint for Applications Processors and explore demos created for i.MX MPUs to kick start projects. GoPoint provides an instant out-of-the-box demo highlighting key i.MX 93 processor features for machine learning, graphics, video processing and more, across a range of OS environments, including Yocto Linux and Debian Linux.
The FRDM-i.MX93 platform supports popular wireless protocols for industrial and IoT applications. It includes a wireless module based on NXP's IW612 providing the latest tri-radio connectivity supporting Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth/Bluetooth Low Energy and 802.15.4 (which includes Thread and Zigbee). The Wi-Fi 6 radio supports dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz connectivity to enable communication with less interference in the 5 GHz band.
In addition to a wide range of system-level components from NXP, included on our FRDM-i.MX93 development board is NXP’s PCA9451A, an optimized power management-integrated circuit (PMIC) designed to complement the i.MX 93 processor, supporting both battery operated and non-portable applications.
The i.MX 93 processor balances performance, features and efficiency optimized for the edge, reaching a wide audience of users, from seasoned embedded engineers to students and developers getting their first taste of applications processors.
Enable a variety of industrial and IoT applications. Discover more features of the i.MX 93 apps processor.
With up to two 1.7 GHz Arm® Cortex®-A55 cores and a 250 MHz real-time Cortex®-M33 core, the i.MX 93 MPU offers ample performance for embedded computing. Energy-efficient Arm Cortex-A55 cores achieve, improvements in performance efficiency over earlier generations of i.MX processors, while the Arm Cortex-M33 offloads real-time control and other board level tasks. Optimizing performance and power efficiency, i.MX 93 processors are built with NXP’s innovative Energy Flex Architecture.
For machine learning applications, the i.MX 93 processor integrates a dedicated Arm Ethos-U65 micro-NPU, delivering 0.5 TOPS of acceleration for neural networks. The micro-NPU works with the i.MX 93 MPU's vision pipeline and MIPI-CSI camera interface to handle vision and AI workloads efficiently. For flexible industrial connectivity, the i.MX 93 processor offers dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, dual CAN FD interfaces, including an onboard TJA1051T/3 CAN transceiver from NXP.
In terms of security, the i.MX 93 processor makes protecting connected devices easy with the EdgeLock® secure enclave. This autonomous on-die security system provides a full suite of runtime security functions, including secure boot, cryptographic accelerators, key management and tamper detection. As a result, developers can achieve PSA Certified Level 2 and SESIP security certifications more quickly.
The FRDM-i.MX93 board elevates NXP’s FRDM ecosystem, making high-performance MPU capabilities more accessible to developers. With its signature flexibility, comprehensive software and support for the full gamut of i.MX tools, the FRDM-i.MX93 board is the ideal platform to quickly prototype and design i.MX 93 processor-based devices.
Visit nxp.com to learn more about the FRDM i.MX 93 development board and i.MX 93 applications processor.
Justin Mortimer is a Microcontroller Product Marketing Manager responsible for the LPC portfolio. A customer advocate, he works hard to improve the design experience for users, from hobbyists and makers to high volume partners. A graduate with honors from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelors of Science degree in Physics, you'll find Justin spending time outdoors in Austin, Texas. Justin was a former member of the United States National Swim Team.
