i.MX 8 System on Module: A Faster Path from Prototype to Production

If you're an embedded systems engineer, you know the NXP i.MX 8 series. Its powerful multi-core ARM architecture and advanced processing capabilities make it a top choice for demanding edge computing applications. Naturally, starting your design with an imx8 system on module seems like a logical first step. It gives you a powerful core and the freedom to design a custom solution around it.

But what if that freedom comes at a hidden cost? A cost measured not just in dollars, but in months of engineering effort, frustrating development cycles, and delayed product launches. In my experience, the real challenge isn't the SoM itself; it's everything that comes after. Let's explore a smarter, faster path from your i.MX 8 concept to a globally deployed product.

There's no debate: the NXP i.MX 8 family, especially variants like the i.MX 8M Plus, is a beast. Starting with an  arm system on module based on this processor gives your project a massive head start with a proven computational core.

An  embedded system on module is a small board that contains the most complex parts of an embedded system: the processor, RAM, and flash storage. Engineers choose SoMs to handle the high-speed, complex part of the design so they can focus on creating a custom  carrier board that holds the unique I/O and interfaces for their specific application. It's a great strategy for creating highly customized hardware.

The i.MX 8, and specifically the  imx8m plus module, is sought after for good reason. It offers:

• Powerful multi-core ARM Cortex-A53 processors for running complex applications.
• An integrated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for efficient AI and machine learning workloads.
• Advanced multimedia and graphics capabilities.

It's the perfect brain for a next-generation edge device. But a brain needs a body.

This is the part of the project that isn't discussed enough. As any hardware engineer knows, integrating a SoM is just the beginning of a long and challenging journey.

Designing a stable, reliable carrier board is a significant engineering task. It involves complex power management design, signal integrity analysis for high-speed interfaces, and multiple prototype spins to iron out bugs. This process can easily take 6-12 months and tens of thousands of dollars before you even have a stable hardware platform.

Once you have hardware, you need software. You have to build a Board Support Package (BSP), write custom drivers for all your peripherals, and port a Linux distribution like Debian. This is a highly specialized skill set. Furthermore, you are now responsible for maintaining this custom OS for the entire lifecycle of your product, including security patches and updates.

Your product isn't finished until it's certified. Getting your custom hardware through regulatory testing for CE (Europe), FCC (USA), IC (Canada), and other global standards is a massive, expensive, and time-consuming hurdle. A single failure can force a costly redesign and add months to your timeline. This is often the stage where promising projects face critical delays.

What if you could skip 90% of that hardware development pain and get straight to working on your application? That's the value proposition of a fully integrated industrial edge gateway.

The Robustel EG5120 is an  industrial gateway built around the very same high-performance NXP i.MX 8M Plus processor you're evaluating. But it's not just a processor on a board. It is a complete, market-ready product that includes:

• A professionally designed and validated  carrier board with a rich set of industrial I/O (RS485, Gigabit Ethernet, Digital Inputs/Outputs).
• A mature, stable, and secure operating system, RobustOS Pro, which is based on Debian 11 and includes full  Docker support.
• A full suite of global certifications, including CE, FCC, IC, RCM, and more, right out of the box.

By starting with a device like the EG5120, you are effectively leapfrogging the entire custom hardware development cycle. Instead of spending 12-18 months on board design, driver development, and certification, your team can start developing your value-added application on day one.

Let's be honest about the total cost. While a bare  imx8 system on module might have a lower upfront price, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) tells a very different story.

Metric	DIY with i.MX 8 SoM	Integrated Gateway (e.g., EG5120)
Time-to-Market	12 - 24 months	1 - 3 months
Upfront Hardware Cost	Low (for SoM only)	Medium
R&D Engineering Cost	Very High (Hardware & Software teams)	Very Low
Certification & Lab Fees	Very High ($50k - $100k+)	Included
OS & Security Maintenance	High (Your responsibility)	Included (Managed by vendor)
Total Cost of Ownership	VERY HIGH	LOW

Learn More:

[The Real Cost of Developing an Electronic Product]

The choice becomes clear. While the DIY path offers maximum customization, the integrated gateway path offers maximum speed, minimum risk, and a dramatically lower TCO.

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[A Deep Dive into IoT Edge Devices]