Official Earth Day Contest:placers scored look and see
codeviper
Posts: 208
Well thanks to those who submitted their ideas, I enjoyed seeing the ways you all came up with doing things in a more eco-freindly way.
reuse of CD spindles as project cases
re-purposing of old cell phones as communication nodes for remote greenhouse monitoring.
robot chassis made from wood rather then plastics.
wow all good projects.
I hope if the kind crew at parallax will support this next year we might see more entrants.
I didn't expect much of a turn out seeing as it was such a short time till earth day and this is the first one, even American idol did not have a great turn out the first year
I want to say thanks to the awesome crew of parallax for providing the prizes, and for useful parts we can use to power out experiments.
If you want to compete next year please post up a hoo rah lets do it again and let parallax know you liked this.
if you want to try one of these projects give a shout out here so everyone who submitted ideas knows you liked the ideas.
This is the hardest thing I have ever done... well not hardest but close too it.
I hope you all do this everyday. local to myself the few people who works on electronics and do any level of electronics as a hobby has a throw it out mentality.
I am glad to see people who looks around and say, what can I do with what I got now?
PLACERS
If you place pick the prize from your place and PM me the prize from your catagory and the shipping address so I can tell the parallax crew what to send you.
First
agfa
post #41
Wow, you are using recycled parts, and working with disabled people too. It is a amazing how professional and awesome that looks.
I give you 44 points
this is due to the massive impact the facilities like you got your parts from having it is awesome to encourage these types of places into your area.
this project is awesome I am not sure of its repeatability, but as an example of what can be done with used parts it looks great and I want to see it working :thumb:
Second
RobotWorkshop
post #27 to post #29
I give 42 points for his trio of spindle centric devices.
this trio uses a group of very standard parts, and seems to be easy to kit.
imagine some components and a book fun easy projects you can make with a CD spindle.
I personally do use CD spindles as well.
Third
bee_man
post #37
you got a very good project!
40 points
the kit potential here is good, and biodegradable parts are a good option to help reduce pollution I can imagine this with Bio-plastics and lead free using conductive glue made with organic adhesive and carbon.
to say it simply the kit potetial is through the roof here and it seems like something anyone can do this seems to be a wooden version of a platform I have seen, but I have never seen it in wood before! and this is exactly what this is all about thinking out of the norm to help the earth, and one way to help is to take current ideas and think what can we take out and replace with a more Eco-freindly option.
Meritpik33
post #25
and his remote green house alarm using a older cell phone and propeller plus solar and wind power charging.
I give 38 points
he has a wonderful idea older cell phones with serial ports are getting rare but a new phone with android could talk to the prop via USB on the go and a script to serve the data to the internet.
Surprise
Tubular
post #44
this design is in it self fun and enjoyable, and it is simple i would imagine it would fit in great in a book.
I think you win a surprise.
This contest is now official and has the support of parallax. prizes are listed below in a chart. I think the options for first are pretty good.
In the 80s "reduce reuse recycle" was chimed on TV, for this Earth-day lets practice the reuse concept, and see what we can do with leftover parts, or just plain junk.
the goal here is to show what can be done with used items, and perhaps generate a few ideals that will make more people get in the habit of making use, rather then throwing out.
RULES
1: should include one Parallax product (possibly none but i will look forward to, and rate entries based on this.)
2:Use of scrap that is easy to obtain that would otherwise go to waste. using common parts can get a better score then rare ones.
3: completion level of entry. the more complete it is the better.
4: is it marketable? you can get bonus points for this category if it might be possible to sale some parts of the project as a kit with intent the buyer fills in the missing parts with the recycled items (IE. bottles, parts from something easy to obtain, or get.tornado in a bottle kits for example do not come with the bottles you supply them) again just a bonus.
5: use value how useful it can be in comparison to work involved or fun value, how fun it is if it is a game or toy.
You can get 10 points per category, and be as fair as I can. the first bit of fairness, since i will be judging, I am not a contestant as well.
Placers and merits will be made public and posted here, and if parallax wants to they may post them on a page. I will ask if they will.
The cut off will be the 10:00PM EST 29th
This should allow for announcements on the 30th.
here is an example for how scoring will be used.
this is a floating water and light sensor station I made for someone who has a fish farm. he needed to know water temp for different reasons including for fish breading and such.
this design would get.
1:product inclusion 6: includes BS2. it gets seven since it includes a product that is most defiantly carried by parallax, but 2 that are purchased else where so not perfect 10.
2: used material category 4: the salvaged components are pretty neutral and common but a lot of this is still new items
3: completion 2: this is very incomplete right now, I did build this at one point but lost the HD i had the files on.
4: marketable 3: perhaps as a side project for the BS2 or including it as a project in a book of Eco projects.
5: usefulness/fun 4: this serves a basic function and can be used to monitor what it was designed for.
score 20 out of 50
the winner will be chosen based off quality in comparison to competition. I was a little simple with the example since it was my own ideal and plus I am not in competition since I'm judging it.
So lets roll up our sleeves and jump in our scrap bins, and see what is waiting to be made.
Overall the spirit of this is reuse of resources, and fun. what can be done to encourage using otherwise spent items in a new way.
I had a hard time choosing the prizes, since not everyone here is into the same type of projects i decided to let you chose what prize you get, so if you like retro computing and games or if you like robotics and sensors your covered.
Placers can chose one prize from the prizes in their level.
Places
PRIZE SELECTIONS
FIRST
Propeller C3 Full Kit
Scribbler 2 Robot (with USB adapter and cable)
SECOND
Gadget Gangster Full Kit
Introduction to Sensors Kit
RXM-SG GPS Module w/Ext Antenna
THIRD
P8X32A QuickStart
P8X32A QuickStart Proto Board Kit
NES Gamepad Controller Adapter
Nintendo Gamepad Controller
Li-ion Power Pack Charger Full Kit
PING))) Ultrasonic Sensor + Mounting Bracket
Honorable mentions
up to maximum of 3
P8X32A QuickStart
If you have a good Ideal post it even if you don’t think it will win. it might still earn you a surprise, who knows?
PS:
this is the first time I have done anything like this, so be patient please college classes will keep me from morning posts on weekdays.
One example.
"Soda bottle bot, includes 2 servos one MCU board 2 sensors" you provide the bottle and some house hold items.
I feel a good thing for the environment is REUSE an otherwise ignored part of reduce reuse and recycle. reuse skips that energy sapping part of recycling and puts an item back to work as is, no melting or reforming.
tell me any ideals you think are good, or just have something to do with Reuse of resources even an ideal may earn a surprise.
I use connectors off ruined mother boards for projects.
reuse of CD spindles as project cases
re-purposing of old cell phones as communication nodes for remote greenhouse monitoring.
robot chassis made from wood rather then plastics.
wow all good projects.
I hope if the kind crew at parallax will support this next year we might see more entrants.
I didn't expect much of a turn out seeing as it was such a short time till earth day and this is the first one, even American idol did not have a great turn out the first year
I want to say thanks to the awesome crew of parallax for providing the prizes, and for useful parts we can use to power out experiments.
If you want to compete next year please post up a hoo rah lets do it again and let parallax know you liked this.
if you want to try one of these projects give a shout out here so everyone who submitted ideas knows you liked the ideas.
This is the hardest thing I have ever done... well not hardest but close too it.
I hope you all do this everyday. local to myself the few people who works on electronics and do any level of electronics as a hobby has a throw it out mentality.
I am glad to see people who looks around and say, what can I do with what I got now?
PLACERS
If you place pick the prize from your place and PM me the prize from your catagory and the shipping address so I can tell the parallax crew what to send you.
First
agfa
post #41
Wow, you are using recycled parts, and working with disabled people too. It is a amazing how professional and awesome that looks.
I give you 44 points
this is due to the massive impact the facilities like you got your parts from having it is awesome to encourage these types of places into your area.
this project is awesome I am not sure of its repeatability, but as an example of what can be done with used parts it looks great and I want to see it working :thumb:
Second
RobotWorkshop
post #27 to post #29
I give 42 points for his trio of spindle centric devices.
this trio uses a group of very standard parts, and seems to be easy to kit.
imagine some components and a book fun easy projects you can make with a CD spindle.
I personally do use CD spindles as well.
Third
bee_man
post #37
you got a very good project!
40 points
the kit potential here is good, and biodegradable parts are a good option to help reduce pollution I can imagine this with Bio-plastics and lead free using conductive glue made with organic adhesive and carbon.
to say it simply the kit potetial is through the roof here and it seems like something anyone can do this seems to be a wooden version of a platform I have seen, but I have never seen it in wood before! and this is exactly what this is all about thinking out of the norm to help the earth, and one way to help is to take current ideas and think what can we take out and replace with a more Eco-freindly option.
Meritpik33
post #25
and his remote green house alarm using a older cell phone and propeller plus solar and wind power charging.
I give 38 points
he has a wonderful idea older cell phones with serial ports are getting rare but a new phone with android could talk to the prop via USB on the go and a script to serve the data to the internet.
Surprise
Tubular
post #44
this design is in it self fun and enjoyable, and it is simple i would imagine it would fit in great in a book.
I think you win a surprise.
This contest is now official and has the support of parallax. prizes are listed below in a chart. I think the options for first are pretty good.
In the 80s "reduce reuse recycle" was chimed on TV, for this Earth-day lets practice the reuse concept, and see what we can do with leftover parts, or just plain junk.
the goal here is to show what can be done with used items, and perhaps generate a few ideals that will make more people get in the habit of making use, rather then throwing out.
RULES
1: should include one Parallax product (possibly none but i will look forward to, and rate entries based on this.)
2:Use of scrap that is easy to obtain that would otherwise go to waste. using common parts can get a better score then rare ones.
3: completion level of entry. the more complete it is the better.
4: is it marketable? you can get bonus points for this category if it might be possible to sale some parts of the project as a kit with intent the buyer fills in the missing parts with the recycled items (IE. bottles, parts from something easy to obtain, or get.tornado in a bottle kits for example do not come with the bottles you supply them) again just a bonus.
5: use value how useful it can be in comparison to work involved or fun value, how fun it is if it is a game or toy.
You can get 10 points per category, and be as fair as I can. the first bit of fairness, since i will be judging, I am not a contestant as well.
Placers and merits will be made public and posted here, and if parallax wants to they may post them on a page. I will ask if they will.
The cut off will be the 10:00PM EST 29th
This should allow for announcements on the 30th.
here is an example for how scoring will be used.
this is a floating water and light sensor station I made for someone who has a fish farm. he needed to know water temp for different reasons including for fish breading and such.
this design would get.
1:product inclusion 6: includes BS2. it gets seven since it includes a product that is most defiantly carried by parallax, but 2 that are purchased else where so not perfect 10.
2: used material category 4: the salvaged components are pretty neutral and common but a lot of this is still new items
3: completion 2: this is very incomplete right now, I did build this at one point but lost the HD i had the files on.
4: marketable 3: perhaps as a side project for the BS2 or including it as a project in a book of Eco projects.
5: usefulness/fun 4: this serves a basic function and can be used to monitor what it was designed for.
score 20 out of 50
the winner will be chosen based off quality in comparison to competition. I was a little simple with the example since it was my own ideal and plus I am not in competition since I'm judging it.
So lets roll up our sleeves and jump in our scrap bins, and see what is waiting to be made.
Overall the spirit of this is reuse of resources, and fun. what can be done to encourage using otherwise spent items in a new way.
I had a hard time choosing the prizes, since not everyone here is into the same type of projects i decided to let you chose what prize you get, so if you like retro computing and games or if you like robotics and sensors your covered.
Placers can chose one prize from the prizes in their level.
Places
PRIZE SELECTIONS
FIRST
Propeller C3 Full Kit
Scribbler 2 Robot (with USB adapter and cable)
SECOND
Gadget Gangster Full Kit
Introduction to Sensors Kit
RXM-SG GPS Module w/Ext Antenna
THIRD
P8X32A QuickStart
P8X32A QuickStart Proto Board Kit
NES Gamepad Controller Adapter
Nintendo Gamepad Controller
Li-ion Power Pack Charger Full Kit
PING))) Ultrasonic Sensor + Mounting Bracket
Honorable mentions
up to maximum of 3
P8X32A QuickStart
If you have a good Ideal post it even if you don’t think it will win. it might still earn you a surprise, who knows?
PS:
this is the first time I have done anything like this, so be patient please college classes will keep me from morning posts on weekdays.
One example.
"Soda bottle bot, includes 2 servos one MCU board 2 sensors" you provide the bottle and some house hold items.
I feel a good thing for the environment is REUSE an otherwise ignored part of reduce reuse and recycle. reuse skips that energy sapping part of recycling and puts an item back to work as is, no melting or reforming.
tell me any ideals you think are good, or just have something to do with Reuse of resources even an ideal may earn a surprise.
I use connectors off ruined mother boards for projects.
943 x 555 - 33K
Comments
We don't want to run the contest, or judge it, but we'll provide prizes if you or any other forum member wants to run this one.
Count us in for $500 worth of Parallax prizes, divided up as you see appropriate.
There you go codeviper. Ask and ye shall receive. I guess your in charge now.
Ken, I hope this doesn't come out of the Propeller II budget.:)
http://www.servomagazine.com/index.php/magazine/issue/2012/04
Robert
I like your idea a lot. I own an IT company and reuse so much 'e-waste' it's crazy! I hate the fact people are just after the gold plate on it and sometimes even charge to pick it up! One bad UPS has like $100 worth of parts that still work in it... Those poor parts were built so well and upon limited resources and one fails and they all get dumped.
Tommy
some simple forward rules, and a stepped division of prizes like first second third and some honorable mentions for still good ideals.
I will have something up in the morning.
thanks.
Morning has come and gone. Any rules yet?
Earth Day is indeed on the 22nd, not the 20th.
It would be a good idea to tell eveyone you edited the first post to show an update with the rules otherwise they would still be waiting for them, (as I was before I went back to the first post).
Just sayin'
If your entry places, you get to pick one price from that place.
and if no one minds, i will post here once a day to keep it in sight so everyone gets a chance to see it.
The Rules and Prize listing is in the top post and if you win first you get to chose either a C3 full kit or a scribbler S2 with USB.
remember completion of project is not completely important 4 other catagories means you can still get 41 points if the ideal is still horribly rough, and i wont give a 0 so the lowest you can get is a 5 if you get a 1 in each category.
Marketability category is based on the kit potential since I and many other ECO-people like to encourage people to use the three R's (Reduce,Reuse,Recycle) and a kit will give nice introduction to the reuse concept.
I just want to note this is mostly about design can you create something to use scrap household items or just plain junk to make something new and amazing.
also I will accept projects that make useful items from scrap, the ideal is to encourage reuse.
all the rules and prizes are listed up top.
parallax is hosting the prizes I'm just doing the judging.
anyone want to give me an update on if they have a project?
1 concept
2 rough schematics
3 refined schematics
5 testing
7 assembled
8 rough final
9 refined final
10 final design and completely usable
but if you are ok with showing it here, go ahead, the contest is competition based, so its like the three men and the bear thing you just need to be faster then the other guys not the bear.
I May have bitten off more then I can chew right now, Don't want to sound like I am back pedaling, but I need to go to a wedding,
It's out of town, so it will be a week long affair for me.(sigh..), I am leaving town weds., three days to build a robot just won't work.
I don't think I can build what I want to enter in your Earth Day contest before I leave town, But you will have plenty more entrants..
Sorry about that, I should have checked my schedule before I piped up and said I was in...
Tommy
I was mainly just trying to keep the thread near to the top to give everyone a chance.
If you want to post the ideal that's fine to as the rules are just how I intend to place them and back whatever projects win to quote Pirates of the Caribbean.
"ya see their more a type of guidelines, rather than actual rules per-say" "Arhhhh"
I will follow them as close as I can, but like I said this is the first time I have ever done this type of thing.
If everyone would just like a little more time to get everything in order I will see if extending the deadline is ok.
Robert
What you need is:
- a propeller chip - may be recycled, with some i/o damaged, because we will use only few of them
- a DC motor and gears from broken electric child toy
- some pieces of plastic, wood or metal
- old, still working mobile phone with serial cable. I have three of them in my drawer, here it is popular item because we can get a new phone for near free every 2..3 years if you sign a new contract with telecommunication company.
- temperature sensor, Parallax sells them too
- some pieces of metal which can make ground electrodes.
From something suitable you have in your house (wood pieces, plastic, metal), make a... propeller.
Get an old mobile phone, connect it to Propeller chip mainboard with serial cable. Remove a battery from the phone, attach it to the mainboard. Power a phone from this with some wires. Buy a new :frown: cheapest SIM card (it costs 5 PLN - about $1.5 here and is sufficient to send about 20 SMS from it)
Use propeller chip to control power source (wind generator), temperature sensor, ground electrodes resistance and mobile phone.
And now, what is it all for?
Install this "two propellers powered thing" near your greenhouse. If temperature is too high (for example >40C) or too low (near 0C/32F), or soil is too dry, send a "emergency" sms to greenhouse's owner.
And how to make this attached image bigger without clicking on it ??
again keeping post up to give everyone a chance to see it.
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?139510-Scratch-built-Hydra-game-system-clone-in-a-CD-Spindle-case-Full-Featured
the post mentions many of the recycled parts used. I also used recycled screws from some electronics gear that was being scrapped.
Robert
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?138417-SpindleBots-Construction-artilce-in-April-2012-SERVO-magazine
It is a fun way to recycle some components and I'm sure that other parts could be stripped from electronics gear being scrapped to help re-use other components as well.
Robert
Robert
very cool.