Xilinx Adaptive Computing Challenge 2021 at hackster.io

The 2021 Adaptive Computing Challenge at hackster.io will reward top Xilinx development projects up to $10,000 (prizes are all Visa gift cards).   You can apply for free hardware to compete in the contest until October 15, 2021.  Final submissions are due February 28, 2022.  The Xilinx University Program is sponsoring an additional $2500 prize for college students.

There are three main categories in the contest: Edge Computing, Data Center AI and Big Data Analytics.  The edge computing requires a solution running on the Xilinx Kria KV260 Vision AI Starter Kit.  Data center AI must use the Xilinx VCK5000 development card.  Big data analytics requires the Xilinx Big Data Analytics card (not much information on this board).

The Kria KV260 Vision AI Starter Kit is listed at $199 but currently out of stock at most distributors.  It is meant for vision application development for Edge computing.  It has multiple camera interfaces including support for the Raspberry Pi camera module.  Multiple cameras are supported by using additional interfaces such as IAS or USB.  A power supply is also required.  One is also included in the  basic accessory pack which also includes a 13MP camera module, available from Xilinx for $59.

KV260 Vision AI Starter Kit with Basic Accessory Pack

MIDI Hack Competition at NAMM 2021

The MIDI Innovation Awards, a design competition for MIDI hacks, DIY projects, or innovative MIDI products is now open with final judging at NAMM 2021.  This competition was announced by Music Hackspace, the MIDI Association and NAMM.

The first prize includes an exhibition booth and free advertising at the 2022 NAMM show.  Other prizes to be announced.  Submissions of existing commercialized products and art installations are also eligible.  For more details see the Music Hackspace Innovation Awards page.

Upcycle it Design Challenge with Intel Edison

Element 14 is hosting the Upcycle it Design Challenge to upcycle an obsolete item using the Intel Edison Kit for Arduino.  The entry deadline is only a few days away, project proposals are due March 3, 2017, but you have until June 9th to complete the project.

Only 15 official challengers will be selected and will receive a free Challenger Kit from element14.  The top prizes include a Keithly digital multimeter, Dremmel Multitool kit and Weller soldering station.  First, second and third prizes will be given as well as a smaller prize for all other challengers.

Open Source Digital Synthesizer Uses Beaglebone Black

Liam Lacey has built an impressive digital synthesizer from an old toy piano and a BeagleBone Black.  The DIY project is entered in the Element14 Open Source Music Tech Challenge.  The project is open hardware and open software with all design files hosted on Github.  To find out more see his blog posts on Element14 or his Vintage Toy Synthesizer Tumblr page.  He also created a number of vintage toy synthesizer YouTube videos.   The video below is an overview of the specifications and features.

World's Largest Arduino Maker Challenge

The World's Largest Arduino Maker Challenge is being hosted on  Hackster.io partnered with Adafruit, Arduino, Atmel, and Microsoft.

There will be 1000 participants in the contest - selected based on project ideas in phase 1. Winners in phase 1 receive an Arduino MKR1000 (US only) and  Genuino (outside US).  In phase 2, three winners will be selected and win travel to a Maker Faire to present the project and a $500 gift certificate to Adafruit.

Element14 Sci Fi Your Pi Challenge

The element14 community Sci Fi Your Pi design challenge is underway.  Competitors will be required to create an application inspired by Science Fiction.  You must to apply to compete but if selected you receive a Raspberry Pi 2, a few other Pi models and various add on boards.  For more details and some example projects see Sci Fi Your Pi Design Challenge Information.  The Grand Prize is a Star Wars Boba Fett Helmet, the community choice prize will be some additional electronics.  Recruitment closes on April 12, 2015.  Here's a great second chance to show off your tricorder design if you missed being a finalist in the $10 Million Qualcomm tricorder XPRIZE.

Win Free Passes to Freescale Technology Forum

Freescale Semiconductor is asking what great inventors would do today if they had Freescale MCUs.  Answer to enter a drawing for passes to the Freescale Technology Forum Americas 2014, you also receive hotel accommodations and development tools.

Development tool description from http://www.freescale.com/GreatInventor
"Includes the Tower System development kit and Freescale Freedom development platform for Kinetis MCUs, sensor shields, Tower System shield adapter, i.MX 6Solo community board, and a coupon for three Tower System peripheral modules of your choice."

Post to social media using the hashtags #FTF2014 and #GreatInventor to increase your chances. Contest ends Feb. 28, 2014.

Embedded Graphics Application Design Contest

$10000 cash and development tools will be awarded for best applications using the ST Microelectronics STM32F429 ARM core in the EvoPrimer development platform.  The application must use the Chrome-ART Accelerator graphics technology shown in the video below.  You may add your own custom hardware to the platform if you send it and all the design files with your entry.  For more information on the contest and the EvoPrimer platform go to www.stm32circle.com. The total cost for the base platform and STM32F429 target board is a little over $100 and can be purchased from STMicroelectronics or online distributors.  The contest ends on February 15, 2014.  The grand prize is $5000, and all prize winners will receive Raisonance development tools with no code size limitations and EvoPrimer platforms.

Atmel AVR Hero Consumer Electronic Design Contest

The Are You an AVR Hero? Contest kicked off at Maker Faire a few weeks ago.  Maker Faire is over, but you can still enter you design until December 31, 2013.  This is a Facebook contest and half of the judging criteria is public votes, so you want to enter early.  The other criteria are quality of the idea, quality of the device design, and commercial potential. Here is a link to the official rules.  Click here to vote on a design and click here to enter.

At the time of writing, the design with the most votes (83) is an LED Matrix Tic-tac-toe game using an AVR ATtiny85 on a solderless breadboard.

TI BoosterPack Design Challenge

Enter an original BoosterPack plug-in board to win prizes including a trip to DESIGN West 2013 in the 2013 Texas Instruments MCU BoosterPack Design Challenge.  The Build Your Own BoosterPack program supports Texas Intsruments LaunchPad evaluation platforms.   TI also encourages you to have your design manufactured and distributed by manufacturers like Seeed Studio.  Finished BoosterPacks can be added to the BoosterPack wiki list where it can be promoted to the official www.ti.com/boosterpack page.

BeagleBone Design Contest

Design a new plug-in board for the BeagleBone CapeContest to win $1000 and production by Circuitco.  The contest deadline is December 31, 2012, with the top three winning the Grand Prize which includes the above plus an analyzer from Total Phase.  Entry requirements are a schematic, bill of materials and YouTube video describing the cape.  Weekly prizes are also be available including Total Phase tools, Adafruit ProtoCapes, and MetaWatches from Mouser.  There are already two submissions, a Geiger cape and a CollRunner-II CPLD cape, you can see them here.

Instructables Electronics Tips and Tricks Contest

Win an Instek bench or Nano handheld Oscilloscope by submitting a new electronics instructable by August 20, 2012.

NXP Android Device Design Contest

Microcontroller Central is giving away ten NXP Android Open Accessory Applications kits in a micro-design contest.  Entrants submit design proposals for an Android controlled MCU based device.  The contest theme is 'changing the world with android' and ends on July 4, 2012. To learn more about the prize, see my blog post on the NXP ADK.

Eagle Design Competition

The CadSoft EAGLE Design Competition is underway, you can already view multiple entries at element14. The top prize is an Alienware laptop and EAGLE 6 Pro version, other prizes include CadSoft EAGLE and Microchip development boards.  The design must include a Microchip processor and a screenshot of the EAGLE 6 layout.  You have until August 31 to post your blog entry using the format of this sample post.  The full terms and conditions of the competition are posted at element14.

Renesas Green Energy Challenge

Renesas is giving away hundreds of development kits to contestants in the RL78 Green Energy Challenge.  Qualified applicants will receive the RL78G12 Renesas Demonstration Kit (RDK) including IAR Kickstart edition development tools. The contest runs from March 26 to August 31, 2012 with prizes of $17,500 US.  Additional prizes will be given away on a weekly basis such as development tools, Wi-Fi modules, and embedded systems books.

Free ChipKit Boards For DesignSpark Contest

The DesignSpark chipKIT Challenge is giving away 1000 chipKIT Max32 development Kits to registered participants.

The chipKIT Max32 is an arduiono-like platform from Diligent with a Microchip PIC32MX795F512 MIPS processor and 512K Flash.  Cash prizes will be awarded for the most energy-efficient designs ranging from $5000 US for first prize to $200 for honorable mention.  Community awards will also be given, $100 vouchers for electronics and magazine subscriptions.  The deadline for entries is in March 2012.

Electronic Guitar Pickguard

Eli Hughes, a research engineer and consultant, entered the Freescale Make It Challenge for Kinetis MCUs with an active guitar pickgaurd that really works as you can see from the video.

For the technical details on this design see this deep dive video by Eli.  It is pretty interesting how complex this design was for the contest.  He does a great job making the physics and math behind it understandable.

Final Week of STMicroelectronics Primer Contest

The STMicroelectronics STM32 OpenWorld Application Design Contest is in the final week for submissions. Even if you weren't awarded free tools in Phase 1 of the contest you can enter your EvoPrimer design by December 14, 2011.  Judges will award prizes to 11 entrants of up to $5,000 US.

Radio Shack Arduino Competition

Radio Shack now supplies arduinos and select sheilds.  The electronics store is promoting a new DIY product selection and it's new website, radioshackdiy.com with The Great Create Arduino Challenge.  The deadline to submit an entry is 12/12/20011.  They are looking for your Arduino project photos and videos.  Prizes include $500 radio shack gift cards.

Freescale Kinetis Challenge Seeks Innovative Embedded Applications for ARM Cortex-M4 Cores

The Freescale Make It Challenge: Kinetis MCUs is accepting registration until August 1, 2011 for embedded applications.  The winner will receive up to $11,000 cash in total prizes.  There will also be cash prizes for semifinalists and second and third place winners.  An online training session, a quiz and a design paper are required to enter.