Israel-based SolidRun, a developer and manufacturer of system on module (SOM) solutions, single board computers (SBC) and network edge solutions, has released a SOM line based on the NXP i.MX 8XLite applications processors, specifically engineered for a variety of V2X applications. The new SOMs are available in single- or dual-core configurations, and the company claims that they pack in all the essential components required to quickly develop V2X, V2I and Industrial IoT applications in a 30 x 47mm form factor.
“In order to accelerate the adoption of autonomous vehicle technology, we need to build a digital infrastructure that supports it. The i.MX 8XLite applications processor was designed specifically for that purpose,” said Andres Lopez de Vergara Lemos, product manager in the edge processing business at NXP Semiconductors. “Working with SolidRun helps us jumpstart and reduce the development time of V2X hardware solutions by providing engineers with a turnkey development tool based on our SoC that serves a variety of applications.”
Targeting vehicle telematics, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications, road infrastructure connectivity and industrial equipment, the new SOMs are said to provide a foundation for secure V2X applications. They feature real-time synchronization and control for a variety of smart-city applications and combine the high-performance application processing from NXP’s i.MX 8X processor with V2X acceleration and the company’s RoadLINK SAF5400 single-chip DSRC modem for next-generation telematics. The SOMs also feature an array of high-speed interfaces, including Ethernet, PCIe Gen 3, USB 2.0 and CAN-FD. As part of its product longevity program, NXP guarantees the i.MX 8XLite SoC will be manufactured for 15 years. Similarly, SolidRun guarantees its SOM will be manufactured for at least 15 years.
Engineered to serve a variety of application environments, ranging from commercial and industrial vehicles to roadside communications hubs and even robotics, the SOMs support an operating temperature range of -40°C to 85°C. The efficient design maintains a low operating temperature without a fan and reduces the potential for heat- and dust-related failures, resulting in reliable long-term operation and performance.
“Smart cities and V2X communications will not only dramatically improve the efficiency of our roadways but will also play a significant role in reducing collision-related traffic deaths and make it easier for emergency vehicles to cut through congested areas,” said Atai Ziv, CEO at SolidRun. “However, none of this can take shape without reliable hardware, like our SOM connecting the infrastructure and vehicles. We look forward to working closely with NXP to ensure our SOMs reliably power V2X communications for years to come.”
SolidRun also offers a HummingBoard carrier board for prototyping with the i.MX 8XLite-based SOM. At just 30 x 55mm, the carrier is not much larger than the SOM but supports up to 2GB of LPDDR4 memory and features expansion and communications options, including 100BASE-T1 automotive Ethernet, USB 2.0 ports, and UART, SPI, SDIO and 12C and I/O pins.