Honeywell and NXP Semiconductors expand autonomous flight partnership

Honeywell and NXP Semiconductors have expanded their partnership focused on developing products for autonomous flight. 

Announced at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, the expansion builds on the firm’s existing relationship which was first announced at last year’s CES event. The companies said they will look to combine Honeywell Anthem avionics and NXP’s computing architecture to create AI-driven technology that improves efficiency for planning and managing flight operations. 

The work will also support faster transitions to new chipsets – a collection of integrated circuits designed to function together as a unit, usually to perform a particular task within a computer system. 

“Our industrial domain expertise combined with NXP’s best-in-class technology is a powerful accelerator for industrial leaders on the path to autonomy,” said Vimal Kapur, chairman and CEO of Honeywell. “Working together, we are developing differentiated solutions and services that shape the future of automation, driving significant customer outcomes and fuelling Honeywell’s growth.”

Honeywell and NTX will team up to advance large-area displays for cockpits with thinner, high-resolution screens. Additionally, they will explore how to simplify migrations to newer avionic technologies, as well as extend lifecycles of existing critical aviation technologies.

“Bringing avionics closer to autonomous flight requires a unique combination of high-performance processing and AI, advanced connectivity and security, and functional safety,” said Kurt Sievers, president and CEO, NXP Semiconductors. “NXP’s broad portfolio and systems solutions approach makes us a natural partner for Honeywell on the journey towards creating innovative, intelligent and autonomous avionics that can sense, think and act.”

According to NXP, it’s domain-based architecture paves a “path to autonomy”, featuring high-compute capabilities, integrated cybersecurity and functional safety. 

That technology will now be adapted for aviation applications on Honeywell Anthem. Looking ahead, the companies are expanding this work to include AI and machine learning in building controllers.

For the aerospace industry, Honeywell will leverage a variety of NXP processors, including the i.MX 8 applications processors currently used in Honeywell’s Advanced Control for Buildings platform and S32N super-integration processors. With NXP’s processors, Honeywell Anthem will deliver faster data processing for real-time AI-driven insights.

One of the early adopters that will benefit from the expanded partnership is UK-based eVTOL aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace. The company is currently flight testing its VX4 prototype aircraft featuring Honeywell Anthem. 

“By fulfilling the promise of advanced air mobility, electric aircraft like the VX4 represent a bold vision for the future,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical. “Honeywell Anthem has already proven to be a highly capable platform, and we’re excited to explore how its capabilities can be further enhanced by NXP’s advanced computing to lessen pilot workloads while increasing situational awareness. Together, we see opportunities to make travel quicker, cleaner and safer, supporting our shared vision to transform how the world moves.”