New chips to make Anthem ‘slimmer and faster’

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Honeywell

The last iteration of Honeywell’s Anthem cockpit underwent flight testing in 2023. Here it is fitted to a Pilatus PC-12 test aircraft. (credit: Honeywell)

Last week, at CES 2025, Honeywell and NXP Semiconductors expanded their partnership to begin building i.MX processors into Honeywell’s latest Anthem avionics.

Honeywell and Dutch chipmaker NTX said they are teaming up to develop large cockpit displays with thinner, high-resolution screens. They will explore how to simplify transitioning to newer avionics and extend lifecycles of existing technologies, as well as defining pathways to support faster switches to new chipsets.

Three eVTOL aircraft developers have chosen to integrate Anthem avionics into their aircraft, including Hyundai’s AAM division Supernal and UK company Vertical Aerospace.

Revolution.Aero sat down with Vipul Gupta, vice president and general manager of Cockpit Systems at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies to delve deeper into the NXP partnership, how it fits into Honeywell’s vision for aviation and why new, powerful chips are key to this.

Question: How does the integration of NXP’s i.MX 8 processors in the Anthem cockpit enhance operational efficiency and safety for pilots?

Gupta: NXP is a key partner of Honeywell on our Anthem cockpit and the i.MX8 Quad Max graphics processor is critical for our flight deck.

The partnership with NXP allows us to create avionics utilising large format displays and graphics with incredible speed and clarity. This enables us to stay at the cutting edge of technology and bring bigger, better, brighter displays to market with the most advanced graphics and safety features. We can then produce enhanced features for pilots such as higher-resolution synthetic vision to give them a view of what’s ahead of the aircraft, and 3D Airport Moving Maps to enable enhanced situational awareness while taxiing around an airport.

Q: How will you advance autonomy through this collaboration, and how does this align with Honeywell’s vision for the future of aviation?

A: Honeywell is focused on ensuring that future aerospace autonomy needs are addressed through our partnership with NXP. With industry forecasts showing year-over-year increases in traffic and operational complexities, avionics that further enhance autonomy for crewed and uncrewed aircraft will be crucial.

This work with NXP directly aligns with Honeywell’s vision for the future of aviation, addressing the ongoing need for advancing safety, pilot assist and autonomy within our industry. We expect that collaboration will generate the high compute platform to support artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms in avionics.

Q: What are the forecasted timelines for the deployment of technologies developed through this partnership?

A: Honeywell’s priority is ensuring the highest level of safety, reliability and performance in our avionics. While Honeywell continues to ensure that technology development meets the ever-evolving needs of our aerospace industry, we can expect to announce timelines for the deployment of AI-driven aerospace technologies through this partnership as they are developed.

Q: What challenges are you aiming to address through this partnership?

A: This partnership focuses on the development of modular architectures in avionics to aid with transitioning to newer avionics technologies faster. Close collaboration with NXP will allow for the maximum lifecycle potential from these new avionics technologies.

Q: Given NXP’s expertise in automotive safety, how are you adapting their cybersecurity and functional safety technologies for aviation applications?

A: Development of aviation applications incorporates stringent cybersecurity measures throughout the design, development and deployment phases of the lifecycle. Honeywell is working with NXP to adapt their best practices from NXP technologies to meet these cybersecurity needs in aerospace.

Q: Could you discuss the potential environmental impacts/benefits of these technologies?

A: Anthem will provide improved size, weight and power versus traditional flight decks. In addition, advanced functions will optimise flight routing resulting in improved fuel burn and assist with the trend towards sustainable aviation.

Anthem is also on multiple AAM aircraft and is an encouraging near-term opportunity to move people and cargo more efficiently and sustainably. From fly-by-wire systems to advanced avionics, Honeywell is contributing new technologies to eVTOL platforms that will feature lower carbon emissions and noise footprints than existing options.

Q: How does this expansion build upon your partnership announced at last year’s CES?

A: In January 2024, Honeywell announced its initial strategic partnership with NXP through the launch of Advance Control for Buildings, a groundbreaking platform designed to automate building management and set the foundation for buildings’ energy efficiency strategies. Expanding on that step-change in building automation, Honeywell and NXP are now bringing advanced computing to bear to drive advances in autonomous flight.

Q: What role will machine learning and AI play in the future iterations of Honeywell Anthem, and how will this enhance pilot decision-making?

A: Machine learning and artificial intelligence will play an important role in the ongoing development of avionics. The potential to interpret vast amounts of data from aircraft to improve features, optimise components and reduce cycle time is promising. Enhancing pilot decision-making through new features in the Anthem flight deck will augment the pilot’s abilities and make their flights more efficient with improved pilot assist capabilities and enhanced safety.

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