CELUS has partnered with Variscite and NXP Semiconductors to integrate AI-assisted hardware design capabilities into embedded system development, enabling engineers to move from concept to production more quickly using a unified design environment.
The collaboration brings Variscite’s system-on-module (SoM) portfolio to the CELUS Design Platform while extending support through the NXP Block Diagram Designer powered by CELUS. The initiative reflects a broader trend toward AI-assisted electronic design automation (EDA), where intelligent software helps reduce manual engineering effort and shortens product development cycles.
The integration allows engineers to architect and refine embedded systems around NXP-based SoMs within a single workflow, helping accelerate hardware design for industrial automation, medical devices, and IoT applications.
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A key aspect of the partnership is Variscite’s long-standing collaboration with NXP. By incorporating Variscite’s modules directly into the NXP Block Diagram Designer, engineers can select SoMs, develop hardware architectures, and prepare designs for implementation without switching between multiple development environments.
“Time-to-market is a critical factor in any new project,” said Ofer Austerlitz, vice president of business development and sales at Variscite, in a statement. “Pairing Variscite’s leading NXP-based SoM solutions with CELUS’ design platform simplifies development and shortens the path from concept to a working prototype and successful mass production.”
The initial release supports the VAR-SOM-MX93, VAR-SMARC-MX8M-PLUS, and DART-MX95 system-on-modules, with additional carrier board reference projects and expanded platform integration planned. Engineers can also leverage the CELUS AI Design Assistant to automate portions of the hardware design process and accelerate implementation.
“As we continue to expand the foundation of the NXP Block Diagram Designer, having key partners such as Variscite embrace the platform and provide solutions that our NXP customers can use is the primary focus of our efforts,” said Luca DiFalco, senior vice president of global channel sales and industrial solutions at NXP. “Our goal is simple: use the NXP Block Diagram Designer to start and finish your design journey in one effort on one platform.”
The announcement underscores a growing industry movement toward AI-powered hardware development platforms that combine component selection, system architecture, and design automation into a unified workflow. Such platforms aim to reduce engineering complexity while helping developers bring increasingly sophisticated embedded AI systems to market faster.
“The focus of this partnership is to provide engineers with a clear path from concept to working prototype/production-ready hardware,” Tobias Pohl, CEO and co-founder of CELUS, said in a press statement. “By leveraging the CELUS Design Platform and our AI Design Assistant capabilities, we are ensuring a highly efficient and effective design journey. Having a technology leader like Variscite on the platform and making their products accessible through ecosystem touchpoints like the NXP Block Diagram Designer gives engineers of all backgrounds the opportunity to design and build with best-in-class products.”