NXP has launched the FRDM-IMXRT1186, a development board for its i.MX RT1186 crossover microcontroller. In a Smarter World blog post dated September 25, 2026, Will Wang, MCU NPI Product Manager at NXP, calls it "the first FRDM platform built on the i.MX RT crossover microcontroller (MCU) family." He describes it as bringing the i.MX RT1180's capabilities into the FRDM ecosystem for the first time. The NXP product page lists the board as Active at $85.00 USD, with 96 units in stock and shipping in 1-2 business days as of October 20, 2026.
The board's documentation is already published. The design files are Rev 1.0, dated December 9, 2025, and the Board User Manual (UM12450) is at Rev 3.0, dated August 14, 2026. Both can be downloaded from the product page with an NXP account.
Two cores, one for applications and one for safety
The board is built on the MIMXRT1186CVJ8C. NXP pairs an Arm Cortex-M7 for application processing with an Arm Cortex-M33 safety core that comes with a TÜV-certified self-test library. CNX Software's September 29 write-up gives the on-chip detail. The Cortex-M7 runs at up to 800 MHz and has 32 KB of instruction cache, 32 KB of data cache and up to 512 KB of TCM with ECC. The Cortex-M33 runs at up to 300 MHz, with TrustZone-M and 256 KB of TCM with ECC. The chip has up to 1.5 MB of ECC-protected SRAM.
NXP's product page lists the board-level hardware:
| Item | FRDM-IMXRT1186 |
|---|---|
| Processor | MIMXRT1186CVJ8C: 800 MHz Arm Cortex-M7 + 300 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 |
| Memory | 64 Mbit HyperRAM, 512 Mbit HyperFlash, 128 Mbit QSPI Flash |
| Ethernet | 2x 10/100/1000M Ethernet for TSN switch; 2x 10/100M Ethernet for EtherCAT or TSN switch |
| USB | 1x Type-C USB OTG |
| CAN | 1x CAN transceiver |
| Debug | JTAG connector, on-board MCU-Link debugger |
| Expansion | Arduino UNO R3, FRDM, FlexSPI Follower, SRAMC and Motor headers |
CNX Software identifies the components behind those ports. The two Gigabit ports use YT8531SH-CA RGMII PHYs, the two 10/100 ports use RTL8201FI MII PHYs, and jumpers set the routing. The CAN transceiver is NXP's TJA1057BT. The board has two USB Type-C connectors, one for the RT1186 USB 2.0 OTG port and one for the MCU-Link debugger. Either one can supply the 5 V rail, and a DC barrel jack is the other power input. CNX also notes current-measurement points for the MCU power domains.
Built around industrial Ethernet
The four Ethernet ports are the main feature: two Gigabit ports for Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) switching, and two 10/100 ports that can carry either EtherCAT or TSN. The industrial protocols NXP names are EtherCAT, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and Modbus TCP, plus "other emerging protocols."
The blog's software list covers the MCUXpresso SDK, MCUXpresso for VS Code, FreeRTOS, Zephyr RTOS, NXP Real-Time Edge Software and the NXP Port Industrial Networking Suite. The product page also lists IAR Embedded Workbench IDE and Keil IDE. Port support for this board is still to come. NXP writes that "Port enablement for the FRDM-IMXRT1186 is expected to roll out later this year," and recommends the i.MX RT1180 EVK for evaluating Port and the industrial protocols until then.
Where it fits
Before this board, the i.MX RT1180 family had no FRDM board. Its development board was the i.MX RT1180 EVK, which NXP still recommends for Port Industrial Networking Suite work for now. The blog notes that the i.MX RT1180 recently received the 2026 ICA Award for IT/OT Convergence Technology Breakthrough of the Year. On the motor side, CNX Software reports dual motor-control headers that work with NXP's FRDM-MC-LVPMSM board. CNX lists the board's dimensions as "TBD", and NXP's page does not give them.
What It Means for Makers
- Who it is for: NXP's target applications include multi-axis motion control systems and servo drives, along with TSN and EtherCAT networking. The Cortex-M33 self-test library is aimed at designs that need functional safety.
- Shields and add-ons: Besides the Arduino UNO R3 header, the board has a FRDM header for NXP's FRDM expansion boards, and NXP's Expansion Board Hub lists compatible add-ons. Check pin functions and voltage levels against UM12450 before you stack a shield.
- Toolchain: The MCUXpresso SDK supports FreeRTOS and Zephyr on this board now. MCUXpresso for VS Code, IAR and Keil are all supported.
- Getting one: NXP sells the board directly from its product page. UM12450 has the power and wiring details.
