Zephyr RTOS Now Supported on Variscite Systems on Module: Enhanced Flexibility for Embedded Projects

Variscite now offers the Zephyr real-time operating system (RTOS) on its System on Modules (SoMs), providing a modern, scalable solution for embedded and IoT projects. Zephyr is currently supported on Variscite’s iMX93 and i.MX8M Plus modules, with plans to add support for more i.MX9-based modules, including the DART-MX95. FreeRTOS will continue to be available alongside Zephyr, giving customers multiple Real-Time operating system options for their embedded projects.

About Zephyr real-time operating system

Zephyr is an open-source project led by the Linux Foundation, built around a compact kernel for use in devices with limited resources. Its architecture draws on established Linux concepts such as Kconfig, driver models, and especially the device tree system, which streamlines hardware integration. While Zephyr is often used with microcontrollers like the Arm® Cortex®-M, it is also compatible with general-purpose processors such as the Cortex-A53 and A55, supporting deployment across a wide range of hardware.

Benefits for embedded and IoT applications

The Zephyr ecosystem goes beyond the kernel, offering a full suite of tools for secure, modular, and resource efficiency-focused embedded development. It is well-suited for monitoring systems, industrial IoT, connected medical devices, and other applications that require real-time operation or strict resource management. Variscite customers working on these types of projects can leverage Zephyr to improve development and speed up time-to-market.

Variscite’s VAR-SOM-MX8M-PLUS SoM

VAR-SOM and DART: product families designed for long-term scalability

Combining Zephyr’s flexible environment with Variscite’s Pin2Pin architecture creates a strong software-hardware synergy that simplifies hardware changes, supports streamlined workflows, and enables scaling across performance levels without redesigning carrier boards. This integration supports the creation of maintainable, adaptable embedded solutions that can evolve with changing requirements while ensuring extended product lifespans.

Variscite’s scalable Pin2Pin product families – VAR-SOM and DART, offer extended longevity and include a range of modules – from entry-level to high-performance.
The VAR-SOM family is 68mm in width and has a 200-pin SO-DIMM edge connector, while the DART family features a more compact 55x30mm size and has three 90-pin board-to-board connectors, providing a total of 270 pins.

Within these product families, the VAR-SOM-MX93 and DART-MX93 both feature NXP’s i.MX93 processor with up to 1.7GHz dual Arm Cortex-A55 cores and a 250MHz Cortex-M33 real-time co-processor. These modules offer an energy-flex architecture ideal for industrial IoT applications, with the integrated AI/ML capabilities making them suitable for edge computing solutions requiring real-time performance.

The VAR-SOM-MX8M-PLUS and DART-MX8M-PLUS, powered by NXP’s i.MX 8M Plus processor with up to 1.8GHz quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 and an 800MHz Cortex-M7 co-processor. These modules include integrated video and graphics acceleration alongside AI/ML engines, making them suitable for multimedia-intensive and real-time processing applications.

Contact our engineering team to discuss how Zephyr can accelerate your embedded project.