It brings modern machine learning and AI capabilities, as well as TSN support for real-time Ethernet, to these applications, extending their lifespan by 10 to 15 years and maximizing the return on investment for these systems.
The powerful new Qseven module is based on the i.MX 8M Plus application processor with quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 performance at 1.8 GHz and an integrated neural processing unit (NPU) with up to 2.3 TOPS. As the first i.MX processor with a machine learning accelerator, the i.MX 8M Plus delivers significantly higher performance for deep learning inference and edge AI. With an ultra-low typical power consumption of only 3 watts, the new conga-QMX8-Plus module offers a performance increase of over 150%, supported by 64-bit architecture and up to 6 GB of onboard LPDDR4 memory. High-energy-efficiency ARM performance, machine learning capabilities, and Ethernet with TSN support enable even more powerful and intelligent embedded and edge-connected IIoT systems. Vertical markets for these low-power modules range from industrial controls, intelligent robotics, and factory automation to healthcare and retail, and from transportation and smart agriculture to smart cities and buildings.
“Since we introduced the first Qseven module based on the NXP i.MX 6 processor, Arm technology has established itself as a widely accepted architecture for the Computer-on-Module (COM) standard. The new NXP i.MX 8M Plus processor has now enabled us to deliver significant improvements for Qseven-based edge devices, not only in terms of computing performance but also with regard to new capabilities for networking, vision, and AI,” explains Martin Danzer, Director of Product Management at congatec, and continues highlighting the most important advantages: “This makes the new module perfect for Qseven designs that want to address new requirements in the embedded market, taking advantage of new features for deep learning inference, predictive maintenance analytics, and object recognition. But it also offers a perfect solution for upgrading existing i.MX 6 designs.”
"The new Qseven module based on ARM Cortex from congatec underscores the importance of the Qseven specification, which is a world leader in terms of vendor modules and community contributions," explains SGET President Ansgar Hein. The top representative of the manufacturer-independent specification is also confident about the future: "This year we celebrate the 15th anniversary of Qseven. With this new generation of modules offering long-term availability of at least 10 years, I am more than certain that we will also be here to celebrate the 25th anniversary."
The i.MX 8M Plus processor enhancements mean
that existing and new applications can now benefit from silicon manufactured on the 14nm process and take advantage of lower power consumption, typically around 3 watts, 64-bit support instead of 32-bit, and up to 6GB of LPDDR4 memory, including online ECC support, instead of just 4GB. Also new are: AES encryption for enhanced cybersecurity, an image signal processor (ISP) for real-time parallel processing of high-resolution images, including H265 decoding/encoding, a high-quality DSP enabling speech recognition applications, and an NPU that adds 2.3 TOPS of dedicated AI computing power for machine inference and deep learning. The integrated Cortex-M7 also provides real-time control, along with a TSN-compatible Ethernet port, and can be used as a failsafe. Along with an encryption module (CAAM) for hardware-accelerated ECC and RSA encryption, the ARM TrustZone also integrates a Resource Domain Controller (RDC) for isolated execution of critical software, and a high-security Secure Boot mode to prevent the execution of unauthorized software during startup.
The new Qseven modules' feature set in detail:
The new Qseven conga-QMX8-Plus modules are equipped with quad-core NXP i.MX 8M Plus processors running at 1.8 GHz for industrial temperature ranges (0°C to +60°C) or 1.6 GHz variants for extended temperature ranges (-40°C to +85°C). The modules can control up to three independent displays, connected via natively supported HDMI 2.0a, 2x24-bit LVDS, and MIPI-DSI, and provide hardware-accelerated video decoding and encoding, including H.265, so that high-resolution camera streams delivered by two integrated MIPI-CSI interfaces can be sent directly to the network. For onboard data storage, the modules offer up to 128 GB of eMMC 5.1, which can also operate in secure pSLC mode, as well as one onboard microSD card slot. Peripheral interfaces include one PCIe Gen 3, one USB 3.0, three USB 2.0, four UARTs, one CAN FD, and 14 GPIOs. For real-time networking, the module offers 1 Gbps with TSN support. The feature set is completed with two I2S ports for audio. Supported operating systems include Linux, Yocto, and Android.
