NXP Semiconductors has announced the i.MX RT1180 crossover MCU to support the implementation of an integrated, secure industrial IoT communication environment at every edge of the factory.

NXP Semiconductors announced on the 9th that it has released the i.MX RT1180 crossover MCU.

The i.MX RT1180 crossover MCU is the first product equipped with an integrated Gigabit (Gb) Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) switch.

It features support for both time-sensitive and industrial real-time communication, support for multiple communication protocols to bridge the gap between existing industrial systems and Industry 4.0 systems, an embedded EdgeLock security enclave which is a pre-configured and self-managed autonomous on-die security subsystem, and the ability to mitigate the complexity involved in implementing security intelligence for IoT applications.

The i.MX RT1180's integrated EdgeLock security enclave provides secure boot, authenticated debug, secure management of the device lifecycle, advanced key management, and tamper monitoring for complex network systems to address Root of Trust (RoT) requirements.

Starting with the 10x10mm BGA package option, the i.MX RT1180 is It is one of the smallest devices among real-time industrial networking supported devices. TSN and industrial networking capabilities can be applied to various industrial use cases, including I/O management, motor control, compact motion control, or gateway applications.

In addition, as a companion network chip, it provides connectivity for all industrial networks. For further power and cost savings, it enables extended connectivity up to seamless Gb direct communication with the host without an onboard PHY.

The i.MX RT1180 is also suitable for automotive connectivity applications. It helps act as an intelligent switch between different automotive ECUs.

Jeff Steinheider, Vice President and General Manager of Industrial Edge Processing at NXP, stated, "Customers in the industrial and automotive industries are striving to provide increasingly advanced network capabilities and require solutions that not only offer the processing power for these functions but also manage time-sensitive network traffic. Through an all-in-one solution that includes an integrated switch and an EdgeLock security enclave, the i.MX RT1180 can handle both automotive and industrial IoT applications and time-sensitive network traffic to the fullest extent, enabling the implementation of secure automation systems with advanced real-time communication capabilities."