More Than a Microcontroller RTOS

Although Zephyr was originally designed for microcontrollers, it now supports a wide range of processor architectures, including ARM Cortex-M, RISC-V, x86, and ARM Cortex-A processors.

This makes Zephyr an attractive option for modern application processors such as the NXP i.MX91 (Cortex-A55) and i.MX93 (Cortex-M33 + 1x/2xCortex-A55). on the i.MX93, Zephyr can run on teh Cortex-M33 core to handle deterministic real-time tasks, while Linux executes on teh Cortex-A55 application cores. Both operating systems communicate efficiently using RPMsg framework,  enabling developers to combine the rich feature set of Linux with the deterministic beahviour of a  real-time operating system.

Alternatively, Zephyr can also run directly on the Cortex-A55 cores. Compared to traditional microcontroller platforms, developers benefit from significantly higher processing performance, larger memory resources, and advanced peripherals while retaining the small footprint, fast boot times, and deterministic behavior of a lightweight RTOS.

For many embedded applications, Zephyr represents an attractive alternative to Embedded Linux, especially when a full Linux operating system with its associated complexity is not required.

Reduced Software Complexity for Cyber Resilience

Thanks to its modular architecture, Zephyr includes only the components that are actually needed by the application. This significantly reduces software complexity compared to a full Linux system.

The result is a smaller memory footprint, faster boot times, and easier maintenance throughout the product lifecycle. A smaller software stack also means fewer potential vulnerabilities, fewer third-party dependencies, and a reduced effort for security updates.

These advantages are becoming increasingly important in light of the European Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). Manufacturers are required to maintain the cybersecurity of connected products throughout their lifecycle and to address known vulnerabilities in a timely manner. A lightweight operating system such as Zephyr can help simplify compliance by minimizing the amount of software that must be maintained and secured.

Modern Graphical User Interfaces with LVGL

For embedded Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), Zephyr integrates seamlessly with LVGL (Light and Versatile Graphics Library), one of the most popular open-source graphics libraries for embedded systems.

LVGL enables the development of modern graphical user interfaces featuring widgets, animations, touch support, multiple display drivers, and multilingual applications—all while requiring only minimal hardware resources.

Combined with powerful processors such as the i.MX93 Zephyr and LVGL enable the development of cost-effective embedded HMIs without the overhead of a full Linux operating system.

Key Benefits of Zephyr

• Open source under the Apache 2.0 License
• Backed by the Linux Foundation and an active global Zephyr community
• Long-Term Support (LTS) releases available
• Small memory footprint and fast boot times
• Scalable from Cortex-M microcontrollers to Cortex-A application processors
• Comprehensive networking and connectivity stacks
• Modern security architecture
• Ideal for industrial, medical, IoT, and HMI applications
• Excellent integration with LVGL for modern graphical user interfaces
• Reduced software complexity, helping to simplify CRA compliance

Zephyr on F&S Modules

F&S provides Board Support Packages (BSPs) for Zephyr on selected System-on-Modules and supports customers throughout evaluation, development, and product integration. By combining modern NXP processors with the open Zephyr ecosystem and F&S' long-standing embedded expertise, developers can build powerful, secure, and maintainable embedded products with long-term availability.