NXP gives connectivity a color: Orange
After the BlueBox (Sensor Fusion, High Performance Computing), the GreenBox (Electric Powertrains) and the GoldBox (In-vehicle network gateway), NXP is now continuing its series of colour-associated automotive development platforms with the OrangeBox. The theme of the OrangeBox is solutions and technologies for connecting the vehicle to the outside world.
The OrangeBox integrates numerous wireless technologies – from broadcast radio, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth to ultra-wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) as well as 802.11p-based V2X. The OrangeBox is thus a single, security-optimised, modular development platform that provides a unified interface between the vehicle’s gateway and its wired and wireless technologies. In this way, it enables automotive electronics developers to equip next-generation vehicles with secure communication paths to their environment.
Cars already use numerous wireless technologies, and will do so much more in the future, to provide drivers with everything from infotainment to advanced safety features. However, these communication devices and controllers are distributed throughout the vehicle architecture. This presents a number of challenges, which are exacerbated as the number of connectivity features increases, increasing the attack surface for cyberattacks. NXP’s OrangeBox combines these wireless interfaces into a single, security-optimised connectivity domain controller, which is then connected to the vehicle gateway via NXP’s high-speed Ethernet. This consolidated, turnkey approach reduces development effort, optimises traffic across multiple communication interfaces, enables consistent, state-of-the-art security protection for all traffic to and from the vehicle, and simplifies the deployment of V2X and cloud applications such as over-the-air updates for software-defined vehicles, according to NXP’s promise to OrangeBox users.
Designed as a modular platform, the device offers OEMs and Tier-1s the flexibility to adapt to different regional requirements for cellular connectivity and V2X, as well as enable in-field updates required to keep pace with changing technologies. This helps speed time-to-market, reduce complexity and provide a complete system reference design suitable for deployment in the application.
Bundles all connectivity to a car’s outside world: NXP’s OrangeBox
The development platform integrates several established NXP technologies, including a powerful i.MX 8XLite family application processor, a software-defined broadcast radio tuner, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth. It also includes secure in-vehicle access with BLE and UWB and 802.11p-based V2X, both secured by certified EdgeLock discrete NXP security elements. Support for 4G LTE or 5G cellular and GPS connectivity is also included. The system facilitates automotive manufacturers to consistently apply state-of-the-art cloud-managed security technologies, such as next-generation firewalls, to traffic entering or leaving the vehicle. The OrangeBox’s central processor runs a Linux-based software platform to manage wireless connectivity in the vehicle. The device includes an NXP Gigabit Ethernet connection to the central vehicle gateway so that other vehicle systems can more easily take advantage of the integrated wireless connectivity.
The OrangeBox automotive development platform is expected to be available to customers in the first half of 2023. It will also be demonstrated at CES 2023.
