Variscite is expanding the Smart Mobility Architecture (SMARC®) portfolio with modules based on the NXP i.MX 95 and i.MX 8M Plus applications processors, enabling secure, scalable edge AI, vision processing and real-time control for a wide range of industrial and embedded systems.
As an NXP partner, Variscite brings deep expertise in production-ready system-on-modules (SoMs), long-term availability, and industrial-grade design. By combining standardized SMARC architectures with NXP’s i.MX application processor family, Variscite helps developers accelerate production while scaling performance across entire product families.
Variscite SMARC modules support edge AI, vision, functional safety and secure connectivity across industrial and IoT applications. Explore Variscite SMARC system on modules .
As industrial systems evolve toward greater autonomy and connectivity, developers are increasingly looking for standardized module platforms that simplify design while supporting advanced workloads such as AI inference, vision processing and real-time control. This approach reduces development risk and accelerates time to market by enabling OEMs to build entire product families on a common foundation.
The VAR-SMARC-MX95 addresses the growing demand for safety-critical, AI-enabled industrial systems. The module will feature up to six Arm® Cortex®-A55 cores running up to 2.0 GHz, complemented by dedicated Arm Cortex-M7 and Arm Cortex-M33 real-time coprocessors for deterministic control tasks. The integrated eIQ® Neutron neural processing unit (NPU) will deliver eight equivalent tera operations per second (eTOPS) of AI acceleration for efficient machine learning inference at the edge. A next-generation NXP image signal processor (ISP) with dual Mobile Industry Processor Interface Camera Serial Interface (MIPI CSI)-2 interfaces will further support advanced vision capabilities, enabling smart camera systems, object detection and vision-based inspection applications.
With VAR-SMARC-MX95, an independent Safety Island architecture helps meet functional safety requirements. This makes it well suited for industrial automation, medical imaging, building management systems, energy infrastructure applications and other use cases requiring functional safety compliance and edge AI capabilities.
VAR-SMARC-MX8M-PLUS provides ML/AI and vision capabilities for a broad range of industrial applications. Powered by the i.MX 8M Plus application processor with up to 1.8 GHz quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 and 800 MHz Cortex-M7, the module integrates a dedicated 2.3 eTOPS NPU and dual ISPs for smart vision systems, object detection and automated manufacturing equipment. Together, the VAR-SMARC-MX8M-PLUS and VAR-SMARC-MX95 give customers a clear migration path as system requirements evolve.
Connectivity and security are essential for modern industrial and IoT deployments. Variscite’s SMARC modules offer options integrating NXP IW610, IW611 or IW612 tri-radio wireless chipsets. The chipsets deliver Wi-Fi® 6 (802.11ax) for high-throughput data transfer, Bluetooth® for reliable short-range connectivity and 802.15.4 support for Thread and Zigbee protocols. Native Matter protocol support enables seamless communication across smart building, industrial and edge computing ecosystems, while hardware-based security features—such as secure boot—ensure robust system protection, complemented by advanced wireless security protocols like WPA3.
Security is further strengthened through an on module Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 with Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140 3 Level 2 compliance, adding an exceptional level of certified security. Combined with NXP’s processor-level secure boot and cryptographic acceleration, these features help developers address EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) requirements while protecting sensitive data and encryption keys.
Variscite designs its SMARC modules with long product life cycles in mind. In-house manufacturing allows tight control over quality, validation and production schedules supporting stable lead times even during periods of market volatility.
The collaboration between Variscite and NXP on our SMARC-standard SoM family demonstrates our shared commitment to simplifying embedded development while delivering advanced capabilities. The VAR-SMARC-MX95 will bring NXP's latest processing and AI technologies to the standardized SMARC form factor. Equally important, Variscite’s in-house manufacturing maintains tight control over production scheduling and quality validation, ensuring stable lead times and availability to its SMARC customers even when the semiconductor market is volatile.
Ofer Austerlitz, VP Business Development and Sales at Variscite.
By expanding its SMARC family with modules based on the i.MX 95 and i.MX 8M Plus applications processors, Variscite provides developers with a flexible, secure and future-ready platform for industrial edge innovation.
By combining NXP's latest i.MX applications processors with Variscite's robust SMARC platforms, customers get a jumpstart on building secure, AI-enabled industrial and IoT solutions.
Amanda McGregor, Senior Director of Product Management at NXP Semiconductors.
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