TQMa8x now available with SYSGO's PikeOS

The embedded computing specialist TQ-Group has extended its long-term available module TQMa8x with support for the safety-certifiable real-time operating system SYSGO PikeOS. This provides developers with a platform for safety- and security-critical embedded systems based on the NXP i.MX8 processor family. PikeOS is a hypervisor-based real-time OS for mixed-criticality environments, allowing the parallel execution of multiple guest operating systems like Linux, POSIX, or ARINC on multicore hardware while keeping safety-critical applications strictly isolated. It also supports native PikeOS tasks, offering high flexibility while meeting functional and cybersecurity requirements. SYSGO provides a standardized Board Support Package for the TQMa8x, including drivers for serial interfaces and Ethernet, aiming for rapid integration and shorter development times for industrial and safety-critical applications. A core aspect is functional safety: PikeOS is certifiable via corresponding kits to standards like IEC 61508 up to SIL 4, with pre-certifications for ISO 26262 (automotive), DO-178C (avionics), EN 50128, and EN 50657 (rail). Its separation kernel is also Common Criteria EAL 5+ certified, addressing high IT security demands. The TQMa8x module, based on various NXP i.MX8 processors with Cortex-A72 and -A53 cores, balances performance and power consumption, supports graphics-intensive applications, and offers Vulkan SC GPU support for i.MX 8 QuadMax systems, enabling safety-certified HMI, visualization, and AI applications. By integrating PikeOS, TQ positions the TQMa8x as a platform for demanding embedded applications in industrial, automation, AI, and safety-critical systems, highlighting the strategic partnership of both companies within the NXP ecosystem