Sensing the World

The challenge

Sensors enhance our capacity to observe and report on the world around us. What a sensor sees can be the difference between that which is imagined and that which is possible.

And in our messy world, using analog sensors to interface with it is even messier. Often times you need dedicated ICs to interface between each different sensor and whatever processor you're using, and things can get complicated pretty quickly. High-resolution analog sensing and processing can be hard to build into projects. Meet CY8CKIT-048 PSoC®, the Analog Coprocessor Pioneer Kit from Cypress. The PSoC ® Analog Coprocessor Kit is a low-cost development platform to easily design sensor-based embedded solutions. You can leave the breadboard behind for a simpler and easier method: build your sensor interfaces in software! No more rat's nests of wires or one-time hardware prototypes; now you can rapidly make changes by configuring the built-in analog blocks on the board by using the PSoC® Creator GUI.Interested? Awesome, as we're giving away 100 Cypress CY8CKIT-048 PSoC® Analog Coprocessor Pioneer Kits to the top ideas submitted by Oct 30, 2016!

In a nutshell, the PSoC® Analog Coprocessor combines flexible Analog Front Ends, programmable Analog Filters, and high-resolution Analog-to-Digital converters along with an efficient-yet-powerful ARM® Cortex®-M0+ signal processing engine - enabling host processors to easily fetch aggregated, pre-processed and formatted complex sensor data over serial communication interfaces.

As if that wasn't enough, the PSoC® Analog Coprocessor also:

• Includes five on-board sensors along with PSoC® Creator code examples

• One analog sensor for each type of fundamental electrical quantity:

• Voltage-based PIR Motion Sensor

• Current-based Ambient Light Sensor

• Resistance-based Temperature Sensor

• Inductance-based Proximity/Contact sensor Capacitance-based

• Humidity sensor

• Is form-factor compatible with Arduino™ Uno, (interface with shields.)

• Can easily be configured to continuously monitor multiple sensors:

• Temperature

• Humidity

• Ambient light

• Motion and sound

In this contest, we want to see your awesome projects that use the PSoC Analog Coprocessor to make sensing all sorts of things in the world a little bit easier. To get you started, we're giving away 100 Cypress CY8CKIT-048 PSoC® Analog Coprocessor Pioneer Kits to the top 100 ideas submitted by Oct 30, 2016 !

Here are some useful links to get you started:Check out the PSoC Analog Coprocessor page with getting started guides, documentation, and supportGet started with the PSoC Creator Integrated Design Environment (IDE).Buy a CY8CKIT-048 PSoC® Analog Coprocessor Pioneer Kit here.Check out the various sensors available through Mouser that can be used with the PSoC Analog Coprocessor hereShow us what you’ve got. We have some amazing prizes for you!Step 1: Register for the contest

• Start by creating a free account on Hackster.io (or sign-in)

• Register for the contest by clicking "Register as a participant"

• Register for the webinars

Step 2: Apply to win one of 100 Cypress CY8CKIT-048 PSoC® Analog Coprocessor Pioneer Kits by pitching an idea

• Submit your project idea by Oct 30, 2016

Click "Apply to receive Cypress CY8CKIT-048 PSoC® Analog Coprocessor Pioneer Kit" and fill in the template. Tell us what you want to create. Make sure to incorporate one of the sensors sold by Mouser for your best chance to win.

• We will select the top 100 winners based the originality, quality, and creativity of your idea

Step 3: Enter to win the grand prizes by building and submitting your projectYou can still participate even if you didn't win a free kit!Build your project using the Cypress CY8CKIT-048 PSoC® Analog Coprocessor Pioneer Kit

• Submit your project by clicking on "Add my project"

• Describe your project. Include plenty of details: what are you creating? What does it do? Why does it matter?

• Submit your project in one of the relevant categories (smart home, environment, healthcare)

• Submit your project by Feb 27, 2017

Your posted project should include:

• Story and quality images;

• Clear instructions;

• BOM and schematics;

• Source code;

• CAD files if relevant

All project submissions must use the Cypress CY8CKIT-048 PSoC® Analog Coprocessor Pioneer Kit

Register for our getting started webinars below:1) October 13th 2016, 9am PST: Introduction to Cypress CY8CKIT-048 PSoC® View RecordingDownload slides 2) Nov. 16th, 9am PST: Analog: How to design with PSoC Analog CoprocessorView Recording

Kannan Sadasivam from Cypress will explain the Analog resources available on the PSoC Analog Coprocessor, discuss the types of projects the PSoc Analog Coprocessor’s analog sensors make it especially well suited for, and explain how to use PSoC Creator to develop designs for analog sensors.

3) Dec. 7th, 9am PST: How to connect analog sensors to Analog Coprocessor: Walkthrough of CY8CKIT-048 demo projectsView Recording

Kannan Sadasivam from Cypress will discuss several projects outlined in the PSoC Analog Coprocessor Pioneer Kit and answer community questions regarding development for the PSoC Analog Coprocessor.

To help you get started, you might find the following demo files useful:Analog Coprocessor Sensor Hub demo:1) FW hex file for the Sensor Hub Demo (programs into PSoC Analog Coprocessor Pioneer Kit)2) Documentation/Setup files for demo3) GUI files for the demoWe’re giving away the latest Oculus Rift CV1 to the best innovation in each region! We can’t wait to see what you build!

Winners will be announced on this page on Mar 20, 2017 . Good luck!Winners are selected based on the following criteria:

1) Project Documentation (60 points)

• Story/Instructions - Show how you created your project, including images, screenshots, and/or (video 20 points)

• BOM – Detail the hardware components as well as apps you used (10 points)

• Schematics – Use software like Fritzing.org, draw your circuit diagrams, detailed photographs (10 points)

• Code – Include working code with helpful comments (20 points)

• CAD - showcase your complete vision with beautiful CAD designs, powered by Fusion 360

• Great photographs, videos, and screenshots are worth a thousand words. Ask yourself: "If I were a beginner reading this project, would I understand how to recreate it?"

• Project must clearly address the contest theme

2) Creativity (40 points)

• Your idea doesn't have to be original, but it should be creative (a fresh take on an old idea is often worth as much as a brand new idea).

Prizes

Best of The Americas

1 winner

VR King: The latest Oculus Rift CV1!

Best of Asia Pacific & Australia

1 winner

VR King: The latest Oculus Rift CV1!

Best of Europe Middle East & Africa

1 winner

VR King: The latest Oculus Rift CV1!