SoMs with Zephyr OS and FreeRTOS target IoT
Variscite is offering the Zephyr operating system on its System-on-Modules (SoMs), providing customers with a modern, flexible, and scalable real-time operating system (RTOS) for embedded and IoT applications.
Zephyr is currently available on the DART-MX8M-PLUS, VAR-SOM-MX8M-PLUS, DART-MX93, and VAR-SOM-MX93 SoMs. Support for additional i.MX 9 series modules, including the DART-MX95, is planned for future release. Variscite will continue to offer FreeRTOS alongside Zephyr, providing customers with flexible operating system options for their embedded applications.
Zephyr, led by the Linux Foundation, is an open-source project featuring a small-footprint kernel suitable for embedded systems, ranging from environmental sensors to advanced devices. It incorporates successful Linux concepts, including Kconfig and driver models, and notably the device tree system, which enhances hardware integration. Zephyr is ideal for applications such as industrial IoT, monitoring systems, connected medical devices, and other systems that require critical real-time functionality or an optimal balance between performance and resource efficiency.
While commonly associated with microcontrollers like the Arm® Cortex®-M, Zephyr’s versatility extends to general-purpose application processors such as the Cortex®-A53 and A55 series, enabling seamless deployment across diverse computing platforms. Additionally, Zephyr’s software ecosystem goes beyond kernel functionality to provide comprehensive options for modern embedded device development, focusing on security, modularity, and performance optimisation.
Zephyr offers significant advantages for embedded systems developers, particularly for resource-constrained devices, where its architecture maximises functionality while minimising resource requirements,” said Ofer Austerlitz, VP Business Development and Sales for Variscite. “By combining Zephyr’s versatile development ecosystem with Variscite’s SoM Pin2Pin architecture, we’ve created a powerful software-hardware combination for our customers. This integration provides simplified hardware integration, streamlined development workflows, and the flexibility to scale across different performance tiers without redesigning carrier boards — ultimately reducing time-to-market.
The integration of Zephyr OS with Variscite’s Pin2Pin SoM architecture delivers exceptional development flexibility for embedded engineers. Variscite’s two scalable Pin2Pin product families—VAR-SOM and DART—offer significant long-term advantages across diverse performance tiers. The VAR-SOM family, based on a 200-pin SO-DIMM edge connector, ranges from cost-sensitive entry-level modules to high-performance solutions, while the compact DART family (55 x 30 mm) provides similar scalability in a smaller form factor. This Pin2Pin compatibility enables developers to seamlessly migrate between different processors without redesigning carrier boards, reducing development time and extending product longevity.
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