Avnet Embedded brings full Windows 10 IoT on industrial Arm-based SMARC module platform with NXP i.MX 8M Plus SoCs
In cooperation with Avnet Silica providing key components for the platform plus development support, to deliver flexible OS installation for customers
Stutensee, Germany – March, 2023 – Avnet Embedded has developed an industrial Arm®-based embedded platform with an SMARC™ embedded compute module running the full Microsoft Windows® 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) operating system without modification. The advantage is that customers can easily install Windows 10 IoT Enterprise on Avnet Embedded’s MSC SM2S-IMX8PLUS modules integrating an i.MX 8M Plus applications processor from NXP™ Semiconductors and are able to use standard API32 PC applications without re-compilation or re-writing.
At embedded world 2023, a demo platform is shown on Avnet Embedded’s Booth 510 in Hall 1 and on Avnet Silica’s Booth 111 in Hall 3A.
Avnet Embedded developed the board in cooperation with sister company Avnet Silica, which supplied the components and supported the implementation of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTC on Arm microprocessors. A key element of the joint development was building in bootloader functionality on the board, therefore allowing customers the choice of installing the Windows operating system themselves or obtaining a pre-installed version including the appropriate license.
In the past, only a subset of Windows on Arm was available with Windows IoT Core, Windows CE / Compact or Windows RT. Avnet Embedded has taken over the task to get operating systems like Windows IoT Enterprise running on module families designed and manufactured in-house.
Tim Jensen, Director of Product Innovation at Avnet Embedded, said: “The new Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC for Arm running on an industrial i.MX 8M Plus MPU from NXP is a real game changer. The new solution will unlock the entire PC ecosystem for Arm MPUs. PC applications will run on this version of Windows without any adaptation and combined with the 10-year support in the LTSC channel, the TCO for industrial customers is outstanding.”
The industrial platform consists of Avnet Embedded’s MSC SM2S-MB-EP5 SimpleFlex carrier board with MSC SM2S-IMX8PLUS or MSC SM2S-IMX8M SMARC compute module running the full Windows® 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC operating system. The board support package (BSP) has been adapted to Avnet Embedded’s SMARC modules by Avnet Silica. Witekio, an Avnet company and software specialist, is able to adapt and port existing customer applications to this solution. The embedded platform is attached to an HDMI touch display.
The compact MSC SM2S-IMX8PLUS module family is based on NXP’s low-power i.MX 8M Plus applications processors. The modules integrate dual and quad-core Arm® Cortex™-A53 processors with up to 1.8GHz, an Arm Cortex-M7 real-time processor with 800MHz and the efficient GC7000UL multimedia 2D/3D graphics processing unit (GPU) with OpenCL™ Vulkan® support.
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