Getting Started with the MR-T1ETH8 Evaluation Board

Out of the Box

The NXP analog product development boards provide an easy-to-use platform for evaluating NXP products. The boards support a range of analog, mixed-signal and power solutions. They incorporate monolithic integrated circuits and system-in-package devices that use proven high-volume technology. NXP products offer longer battery life, a smaller form factor, reduced component counts, lower cost and improved performance in powering state-of-the-art systems.

This page will guide you through the process of setting up and using the MR-T1ETH8 evaluation board.

1.1 Kit Contents and Packing List

The MR-T1ETH8 contents include:

Assembled and tested evaluation board in an anti-static bag
6x 100BASE-T1 Ethernet cables with JST-GH GHR-02V-S 2-pin connectors
JST-GH 5-pin to 5-pin power input cable
JST-RCY SYR 2-pin to GHR 5-pin power input cable
JST-RCY SYP to DC 5.5 2.1 power input cable
XT60 male-to-female adapter with JST plug
NFC antenna
Software release notes
Software license
Packing list

1.2 Software

The example software provided with this board is plug-and-play. It establishes basic Ethernet switch functionality between all available onboard ports. The SJA110 features an integrated Arm^® Cortex^®-M7 microcontroller. The user may perform additional programming using the NXP S32 Design Studio and the SJA1110SDK software development kit.

Get to Know the Hardware.

2.1 Board Features

Small form factor Ethernet switch board with integrated 100BASE-T1 PHYs
6x 100BASE-T1 "two wire" automotive Ethernet interfaces
One Gigabit interface using ix Industrial Ethernet connector
Traditional RJ45 100 Mbit connector SE050 secure element on board for applications such as authentication into a system, late key injection or other credentials. NFC can be used to configure or query settings
Direct ix connection to NavQPLus i.MX 8M Plus Mobile Robotics Linux/ROS2 development system
Standard JTAG/SWD connector for debugging
General purpose LEDs and buttons for programming embedded Arm Cortex-M7 core with user code
Cables for attaching to various power sources

2.2 Board Description

The MR-T1ETH8 Ethernet switch board is intended to be used as an evaluation platform for 2-wire T1 Ethernet in automotive and mobile robotics applications. The MR-T1ETH8 contains 6x 100BASE-T1 2-wire Ethernet ports, a 100 Mbit/s RJ45 connector and a 1 Gbit/s ix Industrial connector. ix Industrial connectors are ideal for use in robotics applications because of their robust design and compact size. The switch can manage traffic automatically between these ports.

The MR-T1ETH8 board can be complimented with other NXP mobile robotics designs such as RDDRONE-T1ADAPT or the NavQPlus i.MX 8M Plus companion computer which has both T1 and ix Industrial Ethernet connectors.

2.3 Kit Featured Components

Overview of the MR-T1ETH8 board.

Figure 2. MR-T1ETH8 Evaluation Board Bottom

System Configuration

The MR-T1ETH8 is designed to interface between a control unit (for example, a robotic vehicle or flight management unit (VMU/FMU) or an automotive ECU) and peripheral devices such as Ethernet connected cameras, infotainment systems, radar or other high-bandwidth sensors. A number of system configurations are possible.

The example configuration shows a robotic system where a companion computer is connected to the MR-T1ETH8 switch using a Gigabit ix Industrial connector. The MR-T1ETH8 switch is also connected to a VMU and to a number of high-bandwidth sensors using the T1 ports. A traditional RJ45 Ethernet connection allows a laptop to plug into the system for monitoring purposes.