Limit on Materials

Legonigel

Hey,
What limits are there on the materials for the competition, because it wasn't clear in the description if there were any limits?
Could I use motors? Could I use a microcontroller like the Lego NXT?

Thanks,
Nigel

hover1

I read the rules to allow ANY microcontroller and LED's at a minimum, which, to me, would also allow a motor or other external device.

Materials: The submittal must use a microcontroller and LEDs at a minimum. There is no restriction on the type of microcontroller you choose to use for the project, nor is it a factor in the judging criteria. All of these materials must be supplied by the student, parents or a teacher.

http://www.parallax.com/go/holidaychallenge

Jim

Legonigel wrote: »

Hey,
What limits are there on the materials for the competition, because it wasn't clear in the description if there were any limits?
Could I use motors? Could I use a microcontroller like the Lego NXT?

Thanks,
Nigel

Legonigel

That is what I thought I just wanted to confirm it.

Thanks,

Ken Gracey

Legonigel wrote: »

Hey,
What limits are there on the materials for the competition, because it wasn't clear in the description if there were any limits?
Could I use motors? Could I use a microcontroller like the Lego NXT?

Thanks,
Nigel

Just to confirm what's been said above - your choice of a microcontroller has no bearing in the judging criteria whatsoever. Not only are the bulk of the funds provided by EETimes, we're considerate towards everybody and their desire to use their favorite processor.

Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.

robbles

Hi - a couple more questions here about materials:

• Are premade LED control circuits, boards or ICs allowed? Two examples I was thinking of would be Shiftbrites and Rainbowduino
  
• Does everything for the project have to be build from scratch (i.e. LEDs, microcontrollers, basic electronic components) or can we re-use parts of old projects like microcontroller boards and enclosures?

Thanks!

robbles

Anyone?

Sorry to be so insistent, but I really do need to know the rules here since I'll probably change my idea and application based on the answer...

Aristides Alvarez

robbles wrote: »

Hi - a couple more questions here about materials:

• Are premade LED control circuits, boards or ICs allowed? Two examples I was thinking of would be Shiftbrites and Rainbowduino
  
• Does everything for the project have to be build from scratch (i.e. LEDs, microcontrollers, basic electronic components) or can we re-use parts of old projects like microcontroller boards and enclosures?

Thanks!

I just wanted to post a reply so you don’t think that your post is being ignored.

Actually your questions are pretty hard to answer. I checked with Jessica and she is checking with other people in Parallax and we’re following up beyond Parallax to make sure we don’t give you the wrong answer.

As a side note (unofficial reply to your question) I’d say that the more preexisting material you use the less value in the eyes of the judges the project will have. I don’t mean that you should buy new LEDs instead of using the ones you already have. I mean that judges will be grading how much (brain) effort you put in the project so if you use more “plug and play” material you’d get lower grading than somebody developing the whole project from scratch (as in making his own LED controller).

If the contest authorities approve the use of the LED displays you mentioned (they’re intelligent displays that already have a microcontroller or some circuits to handle the LEDs) you will have to be very creative in how you use them so you can show off your talent and the pre-made hardware doesn’t obscure your creativity.

I hope this makes sense, but please wait for the official reply once it comes back from the contest authorities.

robbles

Thanks for the reply.

I've got a couple ideas that don't involve using them, so I'll start thinking about those instead for the time being. If it turns out that it's okay to use the intelligent displays, I have some lying around so I can always add them on to whatever I build!

JonTitus

I agree with Aristides--show your creativity. As a judge, I'll look at what each entrant or team created and how they used their materials and "brain power." An entry won't get credit for buying an off-the-shelf scrolling-message device and programming it to say "Happy Holidays, nor would I give high marks to an entry that bought a set of LED rope lights and mounted them on a cardboard Christmas tree.