Building Automation Enters a New Era: NXP and KNX Bring KNX IoT to Zephyr and FreeRTOS
The building automation world is rapidly evolving. Systems that were once closed, proprietary and tied to legacy fieldbuses are shifting toward IP‑native, secure‑by‑design, wireless‑ready, and open‑source‑friendly embedded platforms. At this year’s Light + Building, NXP—working in close collaboration with the KNX Association—will highlight major progress in this transition.
Together, we will showcase new work to port the KNX IoT stack to Zephyr real-time operating system (RTOS) and FreeRTOS, making KNX IoT accessible to the global community of embedded firmware developers. This effort opens the door to a new generation of building‑automation and energy‑management devices that are easier to develop, secure, and integrate into modern IP‑based infrastructures.
With the support of leading IoT enablers like NXP, KNX IoT continues to expandacross modern embedded platforms. By enabling KNX IoT on Zephyr and FreeRTOS, we are expanding the developer base and strengthening the future of interoperable, secure building automation.
— Mr Heinz Lux, CEO at KNX Association
Why KNX IoT and Why Now?
To further illustrate why NXP and KNX are collaborating to prepare for next-generation building‑automation and energy‑management devices, below are the detailed aspects of this transition:
IP‑native and installer‑proven
KNX IoT runs over Thread, Wi‑Fi, Single Pair Ethernet and Ethernet internet protocol version 6 (IPv6), while remaining fully compatible with classic KNX installations through standardized routers. Integrators can modernize without forcing customers into a rip‑and‑replace scenario, preserving decades of KNX investment while enabling next‑generation capabilities.
Security by design
KNX IoT mandates end‑to‑end security using Object Security for Constrained RESTful Environments (OSCORE) over Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP)/ Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR), authenticated onboarding and lifecycle‑aware device management. These principles align directly with emerging Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) expectations around secure‑by‑design development, vulnerability handling and long‑term support.
One tool the pros already trust
The KNX ecosystem continues to rely on ETS, the industry’s most widely adopted configuration tool. With KNX IoT, ETS can configure devices across twisted pair (TP), radio frequency (RF) and IPv6—preserving the KNX promise of multivendor interoperability that simply works.
Open source expands the talent pool
By bringing KNX IoT to Zephyr and FreeRTOS, developers gain access to modern, open‑source RTOS ecosystems with active communities, extensive middleware and proven security models. This reduces development effort and accelerates time to market.
Discover the future of building automation. See how KNX IoT on Zephyr and FreeRTOS comes to life at Light + Building.
A Foundation for Smarter Energy Management
KNX already plays a central role in energy‑efficient buildings by coordinating lighting, HVAC, shading and other subsystems. With KNX IoT, devices communicate natively over IPv6, making it easier to collect real‑time data, optimize energy usage and integrate with modern Energy Management Systems (EMS). This unified approach is how buildings meet rising expectations for energy performance and regulatory requirements.
NXP Brings Full Zephyr Enablement to Wireless MCUs
NXP is a founding member of the Zephyr Project and provides one of the industry’s most complete Zephyr enablement portfolios. Our contributions span Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth®Low Energy (LE), Thread and a broad set of Zephyr‑supported development boards, making Zephyr a first‑class RTOS for wireless, low‑power and resource‑constrained KNX IoT devices.
Because of this experience, NXP became the natural partner for the KNX Association to bring KNX IoT to Zephyr—and now to FreeRTOS as well.
Initial MCU Platforms Supported
These platforms deliver the connectivity, security and compute needed for KNX IoT devices across residential, commercial and industrial environments.
See It Live at Light + Building
At Light + Building, NXP will demonstrate these new KNX IoT developments at the KNX Association booth. Join us to explore how KNX IoT, Zephyr, and NXP’s wireless MCUs can help you tackle the next generation of building‑automation and energy‑management challenges.
Authors
Neal Kondel
Neal Kondel currently leads NXP’s Connected Ecosystems & Applications ranging from support for Matter across NXP products to enabling key technologies such as energy management, sensing and other intelligent applications and ecosystems across industrial, IoT and automotive. Neal has over 25 years of experience in software and semiconductor industries in product management, marketing and engineering focused on various fields such as wireless IoT, security and power & energy management. He also helps lead NXP’s diverse standards efforts, including Wi-Fi Alliance, Thread Group, Bluetooth SIG, and is serving on the Connectivity Standards Alliance’s Board of Directors. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical engineering and business administration.
Anibal Castillo
Anibal Castillo is a product marketing leader with extensive experience in secure solutions, wireless MCUs and smart infrastructure technologies. He currently serves as a Product Marketing Manager at NXP Semiconductors, where he drives strategy for the Buildings and Energy segment and supports customers in delivering sustainable, secure, high quality solutions. Prior to NXP, he led product marketing for the STM32 wireless MCU portfolio at STMicroelectronics and held multiple leadership roles at Thales, Gemalto and Trusted Logic, spanning product management, secure documents, and strategic marketing. An electronics engineer by training, Anibal is passionate about helping companies build solutions that meet tomorrow’s global challenges.