Embedded systems were initiated through aerospace needs, especially for the Apollo Guidance Computer. Real time processing and miniaturization are the key elements of an embedded system since it previously was not possible to embed controllers on vehicles because of big sizes. In major cases, general purpose architectures are underdimensionned or overdimensionned solutions. In order to optimize architecture according to a specific application, design via reconfigurable systems is an alternative solution where architecture is in adequacy with algorithm. Nowadays, PSoC® is a family of integrated circuits that have high presence on the market of reconfigurable systems. PSoC (Programmable System on Chip) is a family of integrated circuits introduced by Cypress Semiconductor in the beginning of 2000. Each PSoC IC has a microcontroller and some configurable analog and digital blocks. These components are programmably routed and interconnected using PSoC Designer or PSoC Creator. The document presents lab materials and a mini-project using CY8CKIT-050 Development Kit and some discrete components. This kit is based on CY8C5868AXI-LP035 chip that includes ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller.

Ahmed Bouzid is an assistant professor at the university of Miskolc teaching embedded systems and architectures. His research interests are related to hardware implementations on reconfigurable platforms and navigation algorithms. He published articles on positioning solutions using hybrid reconfigurability. He is a composer and arranger.