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  • Author Author: cstanton
  • Date Created: 1 Mar 2021 11:33 AM Date Created
  • Last Updated Last Updated: 25 Jun 2021 2:27 PM
  • Views 10621 views
  • Likes 20 likes
  • Comments 144 comments
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Build Inside the Box 500!

element14 presents
Build Inside The Box

About the Challenge | 500th Episode | What's in THE BOX | Contestants | The Prizes | element14 Vault Giveaway| Terms & Conditions | See Brainstorming Call | Member Challenge Winners | Episode 504

 

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We have been building projects, tearing down hardware, and educating viewers on electronics, components, protocols and products for over ten years! And soon we will be releasing our 500th episode!

 

As a special way to mark the occasion we're inviting you to help Build Inside THE BOX and support STEM Education for the 500th episode. Read below on how you can get involved, and what it is about:

 

What is Build Inside the Box?

If you've heard of the television show 'Chopped' then you will be familiar with the idea - contestants must create a palatable dish using all of the ingredients that they are given.

For our 500th episode and to support STEM education, we have chosen three of our hosts to Build Inside the Box - competing against each other to create... something, anything! But they must use absolutely everything (that you help to decide on) they are given in THE BOX.

The projects they create will become our 500th episode of element14 presents - and bonus content of their builds will be available exclusively here on the element14 Community.

Each contestant will be competing for electronics hardware prizes and a shopping cart that will be awarded to a local STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) organisation that each has selected.

 

Register for Twitch Stream to see which VCP won

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Our Wonderful Contestants and Who They're Playing For

 

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Clem

Clem is taking up the challenge on behalf of Georg Schibranji. George is a teacher who gets his students into electronics with his initiative called ‘Fabrik8’, created in 2016 it aims to give the best possible 3D Printing education and support of enthusiasm for electronics in pupils of all ages to aid with requirements for getting work in the industry, George is also the founder of a Makerspace!

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Katie

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Katie’s taking up the challenge on behalf of TEC Girls, a group of women and men in Cornwall, United Kingdom, who’re changing the lack of women in technology, engineering and the creative areas to encourage participation at college, secondary and primary school levels with the aim to encourage engagement as early as possible to help young girls realize that technology is open to all.

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James

If James wins, the beneficiary will be DePaul University's $1,000 makerspace program which pairs underserved high schools in Chicago and the metropolitan area with the tools, training, and curriculum for teachers to integrate maker-centered learning into the classroom. The winning bundle will be distributed in conjunction with curriculum for teacher to use in covering the basics for students to learn 3D printing, CNC routing, electronics, programming, and development for the Internet of Things.

Grand Prize (1 STEM Education Winner)

1x Multicomp Pro Digital OscilloscopeMulticomp Pro Digital Oscilloscope

1x Multicomp Pro / Tenma Bench Power SupplyMulticomp Pro / Tenma Bench Power Supply

5x Multicomp Pro Digital Multimeter with BluetoothMulticomp Pro Digital Multimeter with Bluetooth

2x Multicomp Pro 80W Soldering Station 120v/240v 450-480degCMulticomp Pro 80W Soldering Station 120v/240v 450-480degC

PLUS a $750 USD Shopping Cart

 

Runner-Up Prize (2 STEM Education Winners)

1x Multicomp Pro / Tenma Bench Power SupplyMulticomp Pro / Tenma Bench Power Supply

2x Multicomp Pro Digital Multimeter with BluetoothMulticomp Pro Digital Multimeter with Bluetooth

1x Multicomp Pro 80W Soldering Station 120v/240v 450-480degCMulticomp Pro 80W Soldering Station 120v/240v 450-480degC

PLUS a $500 USD Shopping Cart

 

Find Out What's In the BOX here

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Top Comments

  • kmikemoo
    kmikemoo over 5 years ago +11
    Well cstanton , you read my mind with the 555. Every crazy project needs one. The weird ingredient I thought of is a photo interrupter ( https://www.newark.com/vishay/tcst1103/optical-sensor-transmissive…
  • dougw
    dougw over 5 years ago +9
    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…
  • ntewinkel
    ntewinkel over 5 years ago +9
    The box will also need that "weird ingredient"... best I can think of right now is a little old analogue gauge?
  • dubbie
    dubbie over 5 years ago

    It is always good to have a few wheels. You can do a lot with some wheels. Plus, you need nuts, bolts, hex pillars/spacers as they are always good for making three dimensional 'things' .Mobile robots are always good so you could throw in a couple of low cost robot kits such as the worm robot (Diy tiny bug little worm steam rc robot toy education kit gift for children Sale - Banggood.com) which are always good fun and the receiving organisations would be able to repeat the activities. Displays are always good, so a couple (or even more!) of the OLED graphic displays (5 Pieces 0.96 Inch OLED Module 12864 128x64 SSD1306: AmazonSmile: Electronics) which are easy to interface and not too expensive. And then for interfacing maybe a few buttons, or microswitches (Gikfun Micro Switch Long Hinge Lever for Arduino: AmazonSmile: Electronics  mmm - these look so good I think I'll get some for myself!), good for user interfaces and  sensing the environment.

     

    Looking forward to the 500th episode.

     

    Dubbie

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  • ami301618
    ami301618 over 5 years ago

    To design an interesting Dancing line project following components would be useful and everyone will love to have this in their home.

     

    1. Arduino Nano BLE sense (https://robu.in/product/original-arduino-nano-33-ble-board-without-header/)

    2. Power source Adaptor ( https://robu.in/product/orange-9v-1a-power-supply-adapter-charger-with-5-5mm-dc-plug/)

    3. RGB Led strip (https://robu.in/product/1m-ws2812b-5v-addressable-rgb-non-waterproof-led-strip-light-60leds-m/)

    4. Analog sound sensor (https://robu.in/product/analog-sound-sensor-microphone-module-for-arduino/)

    5. Mosfet (https://robu.in/product/irf540n-to-220-3-mosfet-pack-of-2-ics/)

    6. Potpuri of (resistance, capacitor, DuPont connector, General purpose PCB, breadboard)

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  • nathandumont
    nathandumont over 5 years ago in reply to cstanton

    True, but they typically need a costly, non-standard programmer because they don't do JTAG or SPI. Perhaps one of the chipKIT boards e.g. https://uk.farnell.com/digilent/410-202/tdgl003-chipkit-max32-dev-board/dp/1893212?st=Pic32

    But then you're just into an Arduino compatible.

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  • cstanton
    cstanton over 5 years ago in reply to michaelkellett

    > I've noticed quite a few suggestions of RPi Pico but I would definitely prefer to see a simpler and more mainstream micro

     

    PIC microcontrollers are often overlooked these days.

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  • cstanton
    cstanton over 5 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    1 collection of many image

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  • michaelkellett
    michaelkellett over 5 years ago

    I've noticed quite a few suggestions of RPi Pico but I would definitely prefer to see a simpler and more mainstream micro - Arduino seems the best bet to give the project the widest apeal.

     

    7 seg displays are good - lots of options and easy to understand and cheap.

     

    Some analogue bits - since all the bits must be used them the entrants will be forced to do some analogue !!

     

    Doesn't need to be too fancy, quad RRIO op amp in DIL package Microchip MCP6024 would be good.

     

    A handfull of NPN and PNP transistors.

     

    1311067 type bulb holder and some lower power incandescent bulbs to go in it

     

    Microphone (or the piezo sounder element already suggested).

     

    A power supply (could be battery holders and some batteries).

     

    MK

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  • javagoza
    javagoza over 5 years ago

    What I hate about starter kits is they always carry a single motor, a single servo, a single opamp, a single power transistor, a single of everything ... in the end you always need two kits to do something other than blink a led

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  • baldengineer
    baldengineer over 5 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    beacon_dave  wrote:

     

    It originally started out as a challenge to build a rubber band powered egg carrier,

    Oh wow. I remember building one of those in my 7th grade science class. I had a great working design that I tested at home multiple. It, of course, failed on the day of the actual drop test.

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  • baldengineer
    baldengineer over 5 years ago in reply to geekboy1011

    geekboy1011  wrote:


    And finally something a little different, A piezo electric element, Not only suitable for making obnoxious noises, But for listening to them and picking up even the smallest of vibrations on a surface!

    https://www.newark.com/multicomp-pro/mcft-27t-4-2al-127/piezo-element/dp/25R0953?st=piezo%20element

    Oooooooooh. Lots of great ideas, but those would be fun to play with!

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  • shabaz
    shabaz over 5 years ago in reply to kmikemoo

    Hi Mike,

     

    Fiber optics happened to be on my desk so it was top-of-mind:

    image

    image

    These are 6mm and 8mm diameter. The only reason I had them, is because I recently ordered a lensholder from Edmund Optics, and these were in their 'bargain clearance' section, 1 meter lengths. They came with no specification, rough-cut or damaged ends, they are kind-of flexible but need a lot of force to be kept in any position. I don't have any specific use for them yet.

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