CoM For Secure Edge AI Applications

The modules provide better AI performance, energy-efficient solutions, and security for industrial, medical, and transportation uses.

Congatec, an embedded and edge computing technology provider, has launched computer-on-modules (COMs) with NXP’s i.MX 95 processors. This expands its module portfolio with NXP i.MX Arm processors and strengthens its partnership with NXP. Customers gain scalability and upgrade paths for energy-efficient edge AI applications with high security.

The company claims that the modules offer up to three times the computing performance in GFLOPS compared to the previous generation with i.MX8 M Plus processors. NXP’s new neural processing unit, eIQ Neutron, doubles the inference performance for AI-accelerated machine vision. The hardware-integrated EdgeLock secure enclave simplifies the implementation of cybersecurity measures.

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The conga-SMX95 SMARC modules are designed for a temperature range of -40°C to +85°C, providing durability and optimization for cost- and energy-efficient applications. The integrated eIQ Neutron NPU enables AI-accelerated workloads to run closer to the local device level. 

These modules are used in AI-accelerated, low-power applications in industrial production, machine vision, visual inspection, HMIs, 3D printers, robotics controllers in AMR and AGV, medical imaging, and patient monitoring systems. Additional use cases include passenger seat-back entertainment in buses and aircraft, fleet management in transportation, and applications in construction and farming.

The conga-SMX95 SMARC 2.1 modules are based on the NXP i.MX 95 application processors with 4-6 Arm Cortex-A55 cores. NXP uses the Arm Mali 3D graphics unit, offering up to three times the GPU performance compared to i.MX8 M Plus processors. The modules include an image signal processor (ISP) for hardware-accelerated image processing and the NXP eIQ Neutron NPU for AI inference and machine learning (ML) at the edge. NXP’s eIQ software development environment supports OEMs in implementing ML applications.

The SMARC modules feature a real-time domain for real-time controllers. They offer 2x Gbit Ethernet with TSN for synchronized network data transmission, LPDDR5 with inline ECC for data security, and DisplayPort and LVDS display interfaces. For camera connectivity, the modules provide 2x MIPI-CSI.