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Issue #198

Dear Reader,

Welcome back to the Embedded Bytes newsletter!

The tools we use are changing faster than our engineering discipline. AI is writing more of our firmware. Zephyr is showing up in more designs. And in the middle of all that change, the same kinds of software failures that put Ariane 5 in the news 30 years ago are still happening today.

This issue ties those threads together. There is a feature on AI safety in embedded systems that I have been wanting to write for a while. There is a look back at Ariane 5 Flight 501 as a reminder of what code reuse without verification can cost. There is a piece on automating MISRA C compliance with AI. And there is a great write-up from NXP on why 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Zephyr, including a 10,000-board FRDM giveaway that lowers the barrier for anyone wanting to try Zephyr on real hardware.

Also in this issue:

• How to Organize a Modern Firmware Project

• Automate Compliance: How to Reduce MISRA C Issues with AI

• Ariane 5 Flight 501: Firmware Reuse Safety Lessons

• 2026 Is On Track to Be a Pivotal Year for Zephyr

• A Note from Jacob: The Real Risk of AI in Embedded Systems

• Upcoming Industry Events

• Jobs

• Upgrade Your Skills, Processes, and Architecture

Happy Coding,

P.S. Don’t forget my Build a Custom Zephyr BSP in 3 Hours with AI workshop is happening live on June 24th for just $95. Register here: beningo.com/courses/zephyr-bsp-with-ai

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Industry News and Insights

A Note from Jacob

The Real Risk of AI in Embedded Systems

The scary part about AI in embedded systems is not that it writes bad code.

It is that it writes plausible code.

Code that compiles. Code that looks clean. Code that passes a quick review. Code that quietly embeds a catastrophic assumption.

In web development, a bug might mean a rollback.

In embedded systems?

A failed landing. A recall. A field failure. A lawsuit. A satellite embedded in the moon.

That is why AI in embedded development cannot be treated like autocomplete with confidence.

It needs:

• Engineering oversight
• Architecture constraints
• Verification and validation
• Hardware awareness
• Domain expertise
• Independent review
• Testing beyond “it builds”

AI is an amplifier.

If your process is weak, AI accelerates failure. If your engineering discipline is strong, AI accelerates innovation.

The future embedded developer will not be replaced by AI. They will be replaced by developers who know how to engineer with AI responsibly.

What has your AI actually done to earn the trust you are giving it?

Workshop Promo

Build a Custom Zephyr BSP in 3 Hours with AI – $95

Building a custom BSP shouldn’t take days. But for most embedded teams, it still does.

Engineers struggle through documentation, reverse-engineer examples, and fight with Devicetree, Kconfig, and build systems.

In this fast-paced, hands-on workshop, you’ll build a custom Zephyr BSP from scratch in just 3 hours by using AI as your development partner.

What You’ll Learn:

• Understanding Zephyr BSP components and architecture

• Creating and configuring custom boards using Devicetree and Kconfig

• A practical, repeatable process for bringing up new hardware in Zephyr

• Leveraging AI to accelerate development while maintaining control

• Best practices for portable, maintainable hardware abstractions

This is not about replacing the engineer. It’s about amplifying what you can do.

The workshop includes four hands-on labs covering board scaffolding, UART console setup, GPIO LED control, and I2C sensor integration, with optional Renode simulation support for attendees without physical hardware.

Format: Live + on-demand recording.

Register Now

Embedded Software Academy subscribers get this course for FREE.

Upcoming Industry Events

A lot is going on in the industry over the next couple of months. Here are some of the upcoming events, both free and paid:

Jobs

Are you hiring embedded engineers? Let me know!

Please keep it to 150 words or fewer. I reserve the right to edit it to fit the newsletter’s format and intent.

No recruiters, please! Contact me at [email protected]

Upgrade Your Skills, Processes, and Architecture

Struggling to keep your development skills up to date or facing outdated processes that slow down your team, raise costs, and impact product quality?

Here are 4 ways I can help you:

1. Faster. Smarter. Firmware: A 2-Day seminar on modern practices for better embedded systems. Doing software the right way means fewer bugs and earlier deliveries. This seminar gives your team the tools and techniques to develop software with fewer bugs in less time by leveraging modern techniques to develop faster and smarter. To learn more, email me at [email protected]

2. Embedded Software Academy: Enhance your skills, streamline your processes, and elevate your architecture. Join my academy for on-demand, hands-on workshops and cutting-edge development resources designed to transform your career and keep you ahead of the curve.

3. Consulting Services: Get personalized, expert guidance to streamline your development processes, boost efficiency, and achieve your project goals faster. Partner with us to unlock your team’s full potential and drive innovation, ensuring your project’s success.

4. Team Training and Development: Empower your team with the latest best practices in embedded software. Our expert-led training sessions will equip your team with the skills and knowledge to excel, innovate, and drive your projects to success.

Take action today to upgrade your skills, optimize your team, and achieve success.