Build Inside the Box 500!

As indicated by Sean (colporteur ), I would like to see a complete interactive sensory experience - visual (LEDs), audio (speaker & mic), tactile (switches pots & knobs), motion (motor or servo), sensors (proximity, light, acceleration, PIR, etc)

I don't think you should include communications (wi-fi, BLE, LoRa, etc) because that is out of the box.

A picoPi might be a good controller for the kit.

If parts beyond the kit are allowed, there should be a budget guideline/limit for parts needed but not in the kit - based on Newark/Farnell/Avnet prices.

Parts beyond the kit may be decided by the contestants, but what about challenging them beyond the parts? Shall we spice it up with additional challenges that they have to demonstrate in the video?

Some ideas:

• use the only black wire throughout the project and still make it work
• use only parts with odd numbers
• programming should entirely be done in assembly language
• use only woodworking tools to create an enclosure
• the enclosure must be a repurposed object (no 3d printing!)
• no hot glue

Can you think of any further challenges to test them?

cstanton  wrote:

 

• ... only black wire ...
• ... assembly language
• ...

• no hot glue

Oh Christopher, what has society done to you to make you this evil ?

1.  What about imposing a fine if a contestant failed the prototype testing or the code compiling?

     For instance:

       a) "inactive mode", so the contestant cannot do something/anything for some time.

       b) "limited mode" - limited access to some resources/tools.

2.  Or conversely, give some bonuses for some achievements?
      Of course, to implement the idea 1 and/or 2, the competition should be in live stream or recorded in a studio where all three contestants are presented.

3.  Instead of having some proper materials for an enclosure, I would give the bunch of different stuff left from previous projects, like pieces of plastic, wood, metal sheet remains etc.
     So, they could select what they like and the selected materials will be unique for their boxes. Trading the materials between the contestants is also an option.

4.  To give them only old-fashioned/weird equipment and tools, like:

       a) antique powerful soldering iron

       b) old analog oscilloscope and vintage multimeters

       c) cyberdecks instead of normal computers (Yes, I have watched the Episode 488)

P.S. I am a newbie in electronics, thus some of my ideas might sound silly :-)

"This is the triangle of development hell, choose 2"

embedded_sergey  wrote:

 

... imposing a fine

... give some bonuses

I love those ideas!

Maybe also have secret forbidden parts and secret bonus points parts?

For example, at the end of the contest reveal that use of an RGB LED gives -10 pts, use of a 555 timer is +100 pts, that sort of thing.

And uttering a cliche such as "YOLO" is -1,000,000 pts.

edit: this could also expand into audience participation: Bingo cards containing all the forbidden and bonus words and phrases

Assembly language - wow - do people still have assemblers? The only assembler I have is for a 6502 CPU.

If you want to be diabolical, include some 0201 components that must be used in a working circuit.

If you want to be diabolical, include some 0201 components that must be used in a working circuit.

Challenge accepted... (Because I soldered some in a recent Workbench Wednesdays episode: WorkBench Wednesday 30: Ceramic Capacitor Voltage Effect).