Our Top Members have all participated in atleast 1 Design Challenge and here's why...

I participate in design challenges for lots of reasons:

• I can't resist a challenge.
• I get a lot of satisfaction from building something I designed and making it work.
• I like learning new things and trying new things, experimenting with technology.
• I love solving problems. I sometimes put together a conceptual design and proposal for a design challenge because it is fun to design, but don't submit it because I can't afford to buy the parts.
• Some of the prizes are nice too - an added motive on some challenges.

My first design challenge was the Smarter Life design challenge. I was not successful with my proposal so I was not a sponsored contestant, but I was interested in learning about Cypress Semiconductor PSoC technology, so I participated anyway with my Henrietta Project. Besides winning a great trip to Germany, it also resulted in a most unexpected annual invitation from Cypress Semiconductor to attend their Customer Advisory Board (CAB) conference - all expenses paid. You never know how many benefits will result when you get involved!

My second design challenge was Forget Me Not. I was very intrigued and impressed with the EnOcean solar powered sensors and the awesome free kit included a Tektronix oscilloscope. My IQU project is misspelled in some of the links, but it was a fun project and I got to use my 3D printer on a design challenge for the first time.

My third design challenge was Sudden Impact Wearables. This was a heavy workload challenge with lots of electrical design, lots of mechanical design, lots of software design, even lots of medical design and lots of testing. My Crown Tools helmet mounted concussion sensor did a good job of monitoring head accelerations in the hockey games I got to use it in before sending to the UK for evaluation. It still hasn't made it back, so I haven't been able to move forward with the project. My Heart Reactor heart monitor was a complex takeoff on Iron Man's arc reactor.

My fourth design challenge is Make Life Accessible. I don't know why the blog keeps jumping into a different blog area but here is a link to my Clear Walk project in case it jumps out of the Make Life Accessible area again. This project is going to be expensive with heavy electromechanicals, but it should be a useful device.

I participate in design challenges for lots of reasons:

• I can't resist a challenge.
• I get a lot of satisfaction from building something I designed and making it work.
• I like learning new things and trying new things, experimenting with technology.
• I love solving problems. I sometimes put together a conceptual design and proposal for a design challenge because it is fun to design, but don't submit it because I can't afford to buy the parts.
• Some of the prizes are nice too - an added motive on some challenges.

My first design challenge was the Smarter Life design challenge. I was not successful with my proposal so I was not a sponsored contestant, but I was interested in learning about Cypress Semiconductor PSoC technology, so I participated anyway with my Henrietta Project. Besides winning a great trip to Germany, it also resulted in a most unexpected annual invitation from Cypress Semiconductor to attend their Customer Advisory Board (CAB) conference - all expenses paid. You never know how many benefits will result when you get involved!

My second design challenge was Forget Me Not. I was very intrigued and impressed with the EnOcean solar powered sensors and the awesome free kit included a Tektronix oscilloscope. My IQU project is misspelled in some of the links, but it was a fun project and I got to use my 3D printer on a design challenge for the first time.

My third design challenge was Sudden Impact Wearables. This was a heavy workload challenge with lots of electrical design, lots of mechanical design, lots of software design, even lots of medical design and lots of testing. My Crown Tools helmet mounted concussion sensor did a good job of monitoring head accelerations in the hockey games I got to use it in before sending to the UK for evaluation. It still hasn't made it back, so I haven't been able to move forward with the project. My Heart Reactor heart monitor was a complex takeoff on Iron Man's arc reactor.

My fourth design challenge is Make Life Accessible. I don't know why the blog keeps jumping into a different blog area but here is a link to my Clear Walk project in case it jumps out of the Make Life Accessible area again. This project is going to be expensive with heavy electromechanicals, but it should be a useful device.