---
description: >-
  A small form factor companion computer for mobile robotics applications,
  featuring the i.MX 8M Plus application processor, able to run Ubuntu Linux.
---

# NavQPlus

{% hint style="success" %}
Also take a look at some of our other GitBooks:

* [NXP Mobile Robotics](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-L9GLsni4p7csCR7QCJ8/s/-M8v3AGPa-j5DtYx8zqd/): Quick reference and index for all our mobile robotics solutions.
* [MR-B3RB](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-L9GLsni4p7csCR7QCJ8/s/U93yDWZcgjXGgsC1Duqv/): NXP Buggy3 Rev B platform using NavQPlus and MR-CANHUBK344
* [HoverGames](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-L9GLsni4p7csCR7QCJ8/s/-L9GLtb-Tz_XaKbQu-Al/): Drone & rover dev. kits, with FMUK66 vehicle management unit.&#x20;
* [NXP Cup](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-L9GLsni4p7csCR7QCJ8/s/-L9GLtaxrQtBdBRsFIJB/): Autonomous model car competition for students.
* [MR-CANHUBK344](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-L9GLsni4p7csCR7QCJ8/s/twBzyvivLuBKj9SMDwV9/): Small form factor CAN-FD to 100BASE-T1 ethernet bridge.
* [UCANS32K146](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-L9GLsni4p7csCR7QCJ8/s/-M7FJ_hQKd8L0MNgduui/):  CAN-FD node for mobile robotics applications.
* [RDDRONE-BMS772](https://nxp.gitbook.io/rddrone-bms772/): Battery management system (3-6 cells).
* [RDDRONE-T1ADAPT](https://nxp.gitbook.io/rddrone-t1adapt): 100BASE-T1 ethernet adapter.
{% endhint %}

![](https://2768264622-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MQsLUVVC7cJOe9aVARC%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bb70312cbd6f746e568e46a5c53915b93314a5c2%2Fnavqplus_image.jpg?alt=media)

## Introduction

The 8MPNAVQ or "NavQPlus" is a small purpose-built Linux computer evaluation kit (EVK) based on the [NXP i.MX 8M Plus SoC](https://www.nxp.com/products/processors-and-microcontrollers/arm-processors/i-mx-applications-processors/i-mx-8-applications-processors/i-mx-8m-plus-arm-cortex-a53-machine-learning-vision-multimedia-and-industrial-iot:IMX8MPLUS). It is focused on the common needs of mobile robotics systems, with a small form factor, [Dronecode](https://www.dronecode.org/)-compliant JST-GH connectors, and available software stack including Ubuntu Linux and [ROS2](https://ros.org/).

The entire design is available for companies building their own similar hardware. NavQPlus is built as a stack of boards, the top board being a SoM (System-on-Module) containing the processor, memory and other components with strict layout requirements, and where the secondary boards are relatively inexpensive (often 4 layer boards) and allows for versions with customization to be easily built.

Note that the SoM is almost identical to the larger [NXP EVK for i.MX8M Plus](https://www.nxp.com/design/development-boards/i-mx-evaluation-and-development-boards/evaluation-kit-for-the-i-mx-8m-plus-applications-processor:8MPLUSLPD4-EVK) with the exception of the I/O voltage level being changed to 3.3V. This makes NavQPlus an excellent stepping stone or bridge from the large EVK to a system that can be duplicated for testing _in situ_, or even copied directly for your application.



## Features

1. NXP i.MX 8M Plus SoC on a SoM with LPDDR4 DRAM and eMMC flash.
   * 4x Arm Cortex-A53 core
   * 1x Arm Cortex-M7 core
   * 1x Neural Processing Unit (2.3 TOPS)
   * 1080p60 H.265/H.264 encoder
   * Dual Camera Image Signal Processor (HDR, Dewarp)
2. A secondary board with connectors to hardware interfaces, such as:
   * Dual MIPI-CSI camera interfaces
   * Two CAN-FD interfaces
   * I2C, SPI, UART, GPIO
   * SD card slot
   * 2.4/5GHz WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 using [NXP 88W8987](https://www.nxp.com/products/wireless/wi-fi-plus-bluetooth-plus-802-15-4/2-4-5-ghz-dual-band-1x1-wi-fi-5-802-11ac-plus-bluetooth-5-2-solution:88W8987)-based [Murata Type 1ZM module](https://www.murata.com/products/connectivitymodule/wi-fi-bluetooth/overview/lineup/type1zm)
   * Micro-HDMI, MIPI-DSI, and LVDS for displays
   * USB-C, including power input & output
   * 1 Gigabit Ethernet with ix Industrial connector
   * JTAG BOOT

### Block Diagram

<figure><img src="https://2768264622-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MQsLUVVC7cJOe9aVARC%2Fuploads%2F17GpHQEdbtrf6Es8U0BX%2F1279000-CS_Nav%20Q%20Plus_BD_2048x1152_blue.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=2d2a799a-7ad1-4305-9be8-61e81d09a3bf" alt=""><figcaption><p>NavQPlus Block Diagram</p></figcaption></figure>

## Applications

The NavQPlus is suitable for many purposes, including generic robots, various vision systems, and AI/ML applications.

* Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
  * Such as multicopters and VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) aircraft
* Rovers and other unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs)
  * Road-going Delivery Vehicles
  * Robotic Lawn Mowers
  * Robotic Vacuum Cleaners
* Marine Vessels
* Camera and Vision Processing Modules
* Time-of-Flight (ToF) Cameras
* AI/ML Inference
* Cellular Gateway
* Vision systems in other applications
  * e.g. a hospital bed monitor that detects if a patient is sitting up or at risk of falling out of bed.

Two specific complete developer tool examples are the [NXP HoverGames drone](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-L9GLsni4p7csCR7QCJ8/s/-L9GLtb-Tz_XaKbQu-Al/), and the [NXP Cup car](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-L9GLsni4p7csCR7QCJ8/s/-L9GLtaxrQtBdBRsFIJB/).

## Software

The intent of the 8MPNavQ in HoverGames is to enable participants with a solution that allows them to harness common robotics packages and libraries such as:

* ROS/ROS2
* OpenCV
* GStreamer
* pyeIQ
  * TensorFlow/TFLite
  * PyTorch
  * Arm NN
  * etc.
* And more!

The 8MPNavQ runs Linux with a package manager, so you should be able to install the packages that you need to complete your projects successfully and efficiently.

## Feedback

{% hint style="info" %}
We are making a continuous effort to improve this GitBook, some pages and sections may still be a work in progress. Your input and feedback is very welcome. You may provide feedback in our [Discord channel](https://discord.com/channels/1014291298812960913/1027691375770218638) (to access the channel you must first [join the Hackster.io Discord server](https://discord.gg/g6aSSak9NV)). Alternatively, you can open an issue or pull request to the [GitHub repository](https://github.com/NXPHoverGames/GitBook-NavQPlus) that mirrors this GitBook.
{% endhint %}
