Author
Erya Jin
Erya joined ST in 2002 and worked as an MCU applications engineer and technical marketer. After ST, Erya joined TI as a marketer manager. In 2021, Erya joined NXP as a MCU Product Manager.
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- Simplifying Secure Industrial Connectivity with the New MCX A5 MCUs
Simplifying Secure Industrial Connectivity with the New MCX A5 MCUs
As industrial automation evolves, manufacturers are connecting more sensors, actuators and controllers to unlock the real-time operational data needed for analytics, predictive maintenance, automation and industrial AI. Yet many industrial edge devices still rely on legacy communication technologies or remain disconnected, making it difficult to extend Ethernet connectivity without increasing system complexity.
The new MCX A5 MCUs convert industrial nodes into connected endpoints with a unique combination of 10BASE-T1S Ethernet digital physical layer (PHY), postquantum cryptography (PQC) and topology discovery capability.
The MCX A5 family delivers the industry's first implementation of topology discovery enabled on a wired MCU with integrated 10BASE-T1S Ethernet digital PHY, secured by PQC.
An integrated 10BASE-T1S Ethernet digital PHY enables manufacturers to extend IP-based connectivity deeper into industrial systems, connecting more sensors, actuators and controllers, while reducing system cost and complexity.
Together, these capabilities address one of the biggest challenges in industrial networking: securely connecting more edge devices without increasing system complexity. Rather than piecing together multiple components to add networking, security and network visibility, developers can leverage a single microcontroller (MCU) platform designed to simplify deployment while unlocking the trusted operational data needed for industrial AI.
Enabling the Next Generation of Connected Industrial Systems
Industrial AI is only as powerful as the data it can access. As manufacturers modernize factories, buildings and energy infrastructure, they need practical ways to connect more edge devices and make operational data available across their systems.
However, many industrial devices still communicate over legacy interfaces such as RS-232 and RS-485 or otherwise operate as isolated endpoints. While these technologies continue to serve important roles, they can limit visibility into real-time operations and make it more difficult to scale intelligent automation.
Adding Ethernet connectivity has traditionally required additional networking components, increased software complexity and specialized expertise. The MCX A5 devices are designed to help overcome these challenges by bringing advanced networking, security and processing capabilities together in a single MCU platform.
MCX A5 Extends Ethernet Deeper Into Industrial Networks
The MCX A5 family integrates a 10BASE-T1S Ethernet digital PHY, enabling compact, low-cost multidrop Ethernet networks while reducing the need for additional external components. Because the digital PHY is integrated into the MCU, developers only need an external 10BASE-T1S PMD transceiver to implement a complete Single Pair Ethernet solution, reducing components and simplifying system design.
When paired with NXP's TJF1410 10BASE-T1S Physical Medium Dependent (PMD) transceiver, the MCX A5 family will provide a complete Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) solution optimized for IEEE 802.3cg-compliant 10BASE-T1S networks. Together, these devices help simplify system design while reducing bill-of-material (BOM) costs for distributed industrial applications including factory automation, building automation, energy infrastructure and other connected edge systems.
Simplifying Deployment with Topology Discovery
When building an industrial network, connecting devices is just one piece of the puzzle. As networks expand, understanding how devices are connected is crucial. The MCX A5 family's topology discovery capability helps to identify and map connected devices, improving network visibility and simplifying deployment.
Rather than manually documenting network layouts, developers will be able to gain greater visibility into connected endpoints, making networks easier to commission, maintain and expand over time.
With greater visibility into connected devices, manufacturers can deploy and manage industrial networks more efficiently while reducing the time spent configuring and maintaining distributed systems.
Preparing for Tomorrow's Cybersecurity Requirements
Industrial products often remain deployed in the field for many years, requiring security technologies that can evolve alongside changing cybersecurity standards and regulations.
The MCX A5 MCUs target PSA Certified Level 3 and provide a strong security foundation with support for PQC. Security features include the EdgeLock® accelerator, secure boot with PQC hybrid mode, secure firmware updates, secure attestation and secure debug authentication. Additional protection is provided through security monitoring capabilities such as Code Watchdog, Glikey-protected access and passive anti-tamper detection, helping defend against both software-flow and physical attack attempts.
Together, these capabilities will help developers build secure connected products while preparing for evolving cybersecurity requirements, including those introduced by the European Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).
Designed for High-Performance Industrial Applications
Built on an Arm® Cortex®-M33 core running up to 240 MHz, the MCX A5 family will offer up to 2 MB Flash, 640 kB RAM and a rich set of connectivity interfaces including:
- 10/100 Ethernet media access controller (MAC)
- 10BASE-T1S Digital PHY
- Flexible Serial Peripheral Interface (FlexSPI)
- Universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART)
- Inter-integrated circuit (I²C)
- Improved inter-integrated circuit (I3C)
- Serial peripheral interface (SPI)
- Controller area network flexible data-rate (CAN FD)
- High-Speed USB
- Flexible Input/Output (FlexIO)
Combined with advanced analog capabilities, integrated security and industrial networking, the MCX A5 family is designed to support a wide range of connected industrial edge applications.
Scalable by Design
Industrial designs rarely stay the same. As requirements evolve, developers need platforms that can adapt without requiring a complete redesign. As part of NXP's growing MCX portfolio, the MCX A5 family is designed to help developers scale across applications while maintaining a familiar development experience.
Common software tools, consistent development workflows and a broad portfolio of MCX devices help simplify migration as performance, connectivity or application requirements change. Whether designing a connected sensor, distributed controller or intelligent industrial gateway, developers can leverage the broader MCX platform to support evolving product requirements while reducing software reuse challenges and accelerating time to market.
Accelerating development with the FRDM ecosystem
Whether evaluating the MCX A5 family for the first time or building an early proof of concept (POC), the FRDM-MCXA577 development board will provide a streamlined path to get started. Its compact, low-cost design and support for Arduino®, mikroBUS™ and PMOD™ expansion boards make it easy to prototype industrial networking applications and accelerate development toward production.
Flexible software support with MCUXpresso, Zephyr and Rust
The MCX A5 family will be supported by comprehensive NXP's MCUXpresso developer ecosystem, including:
- Software development kits (SDKs)
- Middleware
- Security software
- Visual Studio (VS) Code integration
- Long-Term Support (LTS) software releases
Developers who prefer open-source software environments will also be able to leverage Zephyr real-time operating system (RTOS), providing flexibility to build applications using one of the industry's leading real-time operating systems.
Selected devices are also planned to support the Rust programming language, enabling modern, memory-safe software development while giving teams the flexibility to choose the development environment that best fits their project.
Looking Ahead
Industrial systems are becoming more connected, more intelligent and more data-driven. The MCX A5 family was designed to help developers keep pace with that evolution. By combining integrated 10BASE-T1S Ethernet digital PHY, topology discovery and PQC in a single MCU platform, the MCX A5 family simplifies secure industrial connectivity, helping manufacturers connect more edge devices, reduce system complexity and unlock the trusted operational data needed for industrial AI, predictive maintenance and intelligent automation.
MCX A5 Availability
The MCX A5 family is sampling now and is expected to be available in Q4 2026. Additional technical documentation, software enablement and development resources—including support through the MCUXpresso developer ecosystem and the FRDM-MCXA577 development board—will become available as the family launches.
Ready to get started? To learn more, visit the MCX A5 page.